Articles
PERFORMANCE OF OLD AND NEW RABBITEYE BLUEBERRY CULTIVARS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA BREEDING PROGRAM
Article number
715_18
Pages
133 – 136
Language
English
Abstract
Blueberry cultivar development efforts have been carried out by University of Georgia scientists for several decades, with considerable cooperation with USDA personnel.
Notable older rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade) cultivars from this program that have a broad degree of utilization globally are Tifblue, Climax, and Brightwell. These cultivars were compared for several years in south Georgia to Austin, Alapaha (pronounced uh-la-puh-HAH), and Ochlockonee (pronounced ok-LAHK-uh-nee), which are new releases from the program.
For the early rabbiteye season, Climax has been the standard, although freeze damage often plagues this cultivar and reduces yield.
In tests over a 5 year period, Alapaha ripened with Climax, but flowered 7 to 10 days later, thus escaping some freeze damage. Alapaha yields averaged 6.0 kg/plant, compared to only 3.1 kg/plant for Climax. For the mid-season, Brightwell has been the standard, and it is a very reliable cultivar.
In these trials, both Austin and Brightwell averaged yields of ca. 6.0 kg/plant, but Austin ripened 5 to 8 days earlier than Brightwell, and generally berry size for Austin was 20% larger than for Brightwell. For late season production, Tifblue has been widely used for many years.
In tests comparing Ochlockonee to Tifblue, the newer cultivar yielded 8.1 kg/plant versus only 4.3 kg/plant for the older cultivar over a multi-year period in south Georgia. Ochlockonee flowered 3 to 4 days after Tifblue, and ripened ca. 1 week later. Ochlockonee berry size averaged 35% greater than Tifblue. All of the cultivars (new and old) are suitable for mechanical harvesting, and have good berry quality such as color, scar, firmness, and flavor.
Notable older rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade) cultivars from this program that have a broad degree of utilization globally are Tifblue, Climax, and Brightwell. These cultivars were compared for several years in south Georgia to Austin, Alapaha (pronounced uh-la-puh-HAH), and Ochlockonee (pronounced ok-LAHK-uh-nee), which are new releases from the program.
For the early rabbiteye season, Climax has been the standard, although freeze damage often plagues this cultivar and reduces yield.
In tests over a 5 year period, Alapaha ripened with Climax, but flowered 7 to 10 days later, thus escaping some freeze damage. Alapaha yields averaged 6.0 kg/plant, compared to only 3.1 kg/plant for Climax. For the mid-season, Brightwell has been the standard, and it is a very reliable cultivar.
In these trials, both Austin and Brightwell averaged yields of ca. 6.0 kg/plant, but Austin ripened 5 to 8 days earlier than Brightwell, and generally berry size for Austin was 20% larger than for Brightwell. For late season production, Tifblue has been widely used for many years.
In tests comparing Ochlockonee to Tifblue, the newer cultivar yielded 8.1 kg/plant versus only 4.3 kg/plant for the older cultivar over a multi-year period in south Georgia. Ochlockonee flowered 3 to 4 days after Tifblue, and ripened ca. 1 week later. Ochlockonee berry size averaged 35% greater than Tifblue. All of the cultivars (new and old) are suitable for mechanical harvesting, and have good berry quality such as color, scar, firmness, and flavor.
Authors
D.S. NeSmith
Keywords
Vaccinium ashei Reade, yields, berry size, berry quality, flowering time, ripening time
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