WHITE FRUITED EUROPEAN LOWBUSH BLUEBERRY (VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS L.) IN NATURAL HABITAT IN UKRAINE

European Lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) is an important ecological component of pine forests in Western Ukraine and Carpathian mountains.
Due to intensive deforestation the natural habitat of wild-growing lowbush blueberry has been shrinking.
In 2006 we found wild lowbush blueberry plants with white-colored fruit.
These plants occupied an area of approximately 0.02 hectares.
Several plants were taken and planted in experimental plots.
Seeds were extracted; germination capacity and other indicators were evaluated.
In the following year, white fruited lowbush blueberry plants disappeared from the area where they were found due to forest clearings.
This study presents biological characteristics of white-colored lowbush blueberry, its growing habitat and ecological aspects.
Presented, are measures to protect wild growing plants and the utilization of white-colored lowbush blueberries in hybridization and creation of new lowbush blueberry cultivars with white fruit having commercial potential to diversify blueberry produce.

IX International Vaccinium Symposium

V. Konovalchuk, V. Konovalchuk

lowbush blueberry, berries, selection, forest, ecology, wild growing plants, white-colored lowbush blueberries, preservation, blueberry habitat

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.810.29