scholarly journals Southern Highbush Blueberry Production in High Tunnels: Temperatures, Development, Yield, and Fruit Quality During the Establishment Years

HortScience ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (7) ◽  
pp. 1850-1856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew B. Ogden ◽  
Marc W. van Iersel
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Set ◽  
Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Reproductive Growth ◽  
High Tunnel ◽  
High Tunnels ◽  
Freeze Damage ◽  
Highbush Blueberries ◽  
Southern Highbush ◽  
Vegetative And Reproductive Growth ◽  
Freeze Protection

Growers interested in producing early, high-quality, southern highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in high tunnels face a lack of information regarding appropriate cultural methods. We sought to elucidate the optimal date to close high tunnels to hasten vegetative and reproductive growth of organic southern highbush blueberry cultivars Emerald and Jewel grown in Georgia. The three dates selected to close the high tunnels were 15 Dec., 2 Jan., and 16 Jan. High tunnels raised soil and daytime air temperatures during winter months, but the tunnels did not retain heat at night and did not provide freeze protection without the use of propane heaters. The high tunnel microclimate advanced both vegetative and reproductive growth compared with outdoor plants. Averaged over the 2-year study, the 15 Dec. tunnel closure advanced flower initiation by 38 days for ‘Emerald’ and 39 days for ‘Jewel’ compared with outdoor control plants. Synchronization of flowering of the two cultivars was poor in 2007 when ‘Emerald’ flowered much earlier than ‘Jewel’ and much better in 2008. In 2007, flower and fruit development of ‘Jewel’ were faster than that of ‘Emerald’ with Jewel going from the appearance of individual flowers to ripe fruit in 80 days as compared with 105 days for ‘Emerald’. Total yield was strongly correlated with fruit set (r = 0.94). ‘Emerald’ fruit contained higher concentrations of soluble solids and anthocyanins than ‘Jewel’ fruit, and anthocyanin concentrations increased throughout the harvest period. No fruit matured in 2008 as a result of freeze damage. The biggest obstacle for high tunnel production of southern highbush blueberries appears to be preventing freeze damage and assuring pollination. Cost-effective freeze protection and ways to promote good fruit set will be critical to successful production of early southern highbush blueberries in high tunnels.

scholarly journals Effects of CPPU Applications on Southern Highbush Blueberries

HortScience ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 1612-1615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey G. Williamson ◽  
D. Scott NeSmith
Keyword(s):  
Growth Regulator ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽  
Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Berry Size ◽  
Spray Volume ◽  
Highbush Blueberries ◽  
Southern Highbush ◽  
Spray Timing

Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to determine the effects of the growth regulator N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N′-phenylurea (CPPU) on fruit set, berry size, and yield of southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum hybrids). The experiments were conducted over a period of several years in Georgia and Florida. CPPU sprays were capable of increasing fruit set and berry weight of southern highbush blueberry, although the responses to CPPU treatment were variable and appeared to be influenced by factors such as rate, spray timing, and cultivar. In Florida, high natural fruit set may have prevented increased fruit set from CPPU. A slight delay in berry maturity was noted in several experiments. Spray burn occurred on several occasions and may be related to factors such as cultivar, rate, spray volume, and use of surfactant.

scholarly journals Performance of Southern Highbush Blueberry Cultivars Under High Tunnels in Florida

2012 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 700-704 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bielinski M. Santos ◽  
Teresa P. Salame-Donoso
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
High Tunnels ◽  
Southern Highbush ◽  
Freeze Protection ◽  
Open Fields

A study was conducted over two southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum × Vaccinium darrowi) seasons in a grower field in Florida. The objective was to compare the early fruit weight of southern highbush blueberry cultivars in high tunnels and in open fields. Four treatments were tested using combinations of two southern highbush blueberry cultivars (Snow Chaser and Springhigh) and two production systems (open fields and 18-ft-high tunnels). The results indicated that there was a significant effect of the production systems on the number of days with air temperatures at or near freezing (≤34 °F), and maximum and minimum air temperatures. The minimum air temperature in open-field plots reached ≈19 and 21 °F (61 freezing or near-freezing events) in the 2009–10 and 2010–11 seasons, respectively, whereas the minimum air temperatures inside the high tunnels were ≈32 and 33 °F, respectively, during the same seasons (only 3 days at ≤34 °F). This indicated that using high tunnels was an effective means to avoid freezing air temperatures in blueberries. In the first season, the cumulative early fruit weight was the highest in plots planted with ‘Snow Chaser’ inside the high tunnels (≈10 tons/acre), while the combined production of the two cultivars in the open fields did not reach 1 ton/acre until the end of the early harvests. The following year, there were no differences in the cumulative early fruit weight of both cultivars when planted in the open fields (2.2 tons/acre) and the cumulative fruit yields of ‘Springhigh’ and ‘Snow Chaser’ growing inside the high tunnels was twice and four times higher, respectively, than the early fruit production obtained in the open fields. These data showed the profound effect of high tunnels on flower protection and fruit set. High tunnels reduced water use for freeze protection. The total volume used in the open fields during the freezing or near-freezing days was ≈2.5 acre-inch/acre per 8 hours of freeze protection, whereas only 1/10 of that volume was applied inside the structures.

scholarly journals Protected Culture for Vegetable and Small Fruit Crops: Southern Highbush Blueberry Cultivars under High Tunnels

EDIS ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bielinski M. Santos ◽  
Teresa P. Salame-Donoso
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Fruit Crops ◽  
North Central ◽  
Central Florida ◽  
Fact Sheet ◽  
Small Fruit ◽  
High Tunnels ◽  
Southern Highbush ◽  
Freeze Protection

High tunnels have been proposed as an alternative for freeze protection and to increase fruit earliness of southern highbush blueberry. But there is no information about the effect of this type of structure on southern highbush blueberry fruit earliness under subtropical Florida conditions. This 3-page fact sheet summarizes the results of 2-year study in a commercial southern highbush blueberry farm in North Central Florida to compare early fruit weight in high tunnels to that of open fields. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Bielinski M. Santos and Teresa P. Salame-Donoso, and published by the UF Department of Horticultural Sciences, July 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1226

scholarly journals Pruning Southern Highbush Blueberry in Florida

EDIS ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Doug Phillips ◽  
Jeffrey Williamson
Keyword(s):  
Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Reproductive Growth ◽  
Harvesting Efficiency ◽  
Southern Highbush ◽  
Vegetative And Reproductive Growth

Pruning is an essential part of blueberry production and is used to help establish new plantings; promote postharvest growth of new foliage and fruiting wood; balance vegetative and reproductive growth; reduce disease and certain insect pressure; assist in harvesting efficiency; and promote new cane growth and plant longevity. This new 3-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department is a discussion of pruning practices on southern highbush blueberry in Florida. Written by Douglas A. Phillips and Jeffrey G. Williamson.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1359

LEAF AND BUD TEMPERATURES OF SOUTHERN HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRIES (VACCINIUM CORYMBOSUM) INSIDE HIGH TUNNELS

2011 ◽  
pp. 1319-1325
Author(s):  
A.B. Ogden ◽  
J. Kim ◽  
C.A. Radcliffe ◽  
M.W. van Iersel ◽  
L.A. Donovan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽  
High Tunnels ◽  
Highbush Blueberries ◽  
Southern Highbush

scholarly journals Interspecific and Intraspecific Pollination Effects in Rabbiteye and Southern Highbush Blueberry

HortScience ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 324-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Creighton L. Gupton ◽  
James M. Spiers
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Development ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Blue Ridge ◽  
Vaccinium Ashei ◽  
Berry Weight ◽  
Cape Fear ◽  
Southern Highbush ◽  
Number Of Seeds ◽  
Partial Diallel

To determine the effects of pollen source on blueberry production, we made a partial diallel set of crosses involving seven rabbiteye (Vaccinium ashei Reade) and seven southern highbush (SH; V. corymbosum L.) parents. Pollination of rabbiteye blueberry flowers with SH pollen reduced fruit set, seeds per berry, and berry weight and increased fruit development period (FDP) compared to pollination with rabbiteye pollen. Pollination of SH flowers with rabbiteye pollen resulted in about the same fruit set and FDP but fewer seeds per berry and slightly lower berry weight compared to intraspecific pollination. Self-pollination significantly decreased the number of seeds per berry and berry weight and increased FDP in SH. Pollination of rabbiteye and SH flowers with mixed pollen produced the same results as intraspecific pollination. Using `Tifblue' and `Baldwin' (rabbiteye) as the pollen parent significantly increased FDP in rabbiteye blueberry. Using `Georgiagem' and `Cape Fear' as pollen parents produced the longest FDP, and using `O'Neal' and `Gulfcoast' produced the shortest FDP in SH blueberry. The heaviest berries were produced by using `Blue Ridge', `O'Neal', and `Gulfcoast' (SH) as pollen parents on SH females. These results suggest that xenia possibly could be used to increase yield and reduce FDP in blueberry.

scholarly journals Impact of Repeated Yearly Applications of Prohexadione-Calcium On Vegetative and Reproductive Growth of ‘Golden Delicious’/M.9 Apple Trees

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Nilgün Atay ◽  
Fatma Koyuncu
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Vegetative Growth ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Apple Trees ◽  
Reproductive Growth ◽  
Node Number ◽  
Golden Delicious ◽  
Vegetative And Reproductive Growth ◽  
Prohexadione Calcium

Abstract Growth retardants have great potential to balance between vegetative and reproductive growth. To assess the effects of prohexadione-calcium (Pro-Ca, Regalis) on reproductive and vegetative growth, return bloom, fruit set, and also fruit quality in ‘Golden Delicious’ apple grafted on M.9 rootstock, an experiment was performed during 2010-2012. The applications of 125 mg dm-3 Pro-Ca on the same trees in each year resulted in a 40-43% shoot length reducing. Internodes length decreased with Pro-Ca at about 30%, while total node number was unaffected. Results indicate that Pro-Ca applications have no effects on tree trunk growth, flowering, yield, fruit set and development. Pro-Ca also didn’t have any negative impact on fruit quality during the three consecutive years. Moreover, Pro-Ca resulted in higher fruit size compared to control in the third year of trial. The results of this experiment clearly suggest that fruit growers can use Pro- Ca for the control of vegetative growth without having any negative effects on fruit quality and yield parameters. Once a full canopy has been achieved, annual shoot growth can be suppressed in the range of 20 to 30 cm with 125 mg dm-3 Pro-Ca treatment in ‘Golden Delicious’ apple trees.

scholarly journals Hydrogen Cyanamide Stimulates Early Foliation of `Misty' Southern Highbush Blueberry

HortScience ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 537C-537
Author(s):  
J.G. Williamson ◽  
R.L. Darnell
Keyword(s):  
Vegetative Growth ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Small Diameter ◽  
Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Full Bloom ◽  
Flower Buds ◽  
Flower Bud ◽  
Hydrogen Cyanamide ◽  
Southern Highbush ◽  
Chilling Treatment

Two-year-old, container-grown `Misty' southern highbush blueberry plants were sprayed to drip with two concentrations of hydrogen cyanamide (HCN) (20.4 g·L–1 and 10.2 g·L–1) after exposure to 0, 150, or 300 hr of continuous chilling at 5.6°C. All plants were sprayed immediately after chilling and placed in a greenhouse for several weeks. The plants were moved outdoors during flowering to increase cross-pollination from nearby `Sharpblue' blueberry plants. HCN sprays killed some of the more advanced flower buds on shoot terminals and on small-diameter wood from the previous spring growth flush. Significantly greater flower bud mortality occurred for the 20.4 g·L–1 HCN sprays than for the 10.2 g·L–1 sprays. Flower buds subjected to 0 hr of chilling were more susceptible to spray burn than flower buds receiving 150 or 300 hr of chilling. Very little flower bud death occurred with the 10.2 g·L–1 HCN rate on plants receiving 300 hr of chilling. Vegetative budbreak was advanced for both HCN treatments compared to controls, regardless of chilling treatment. HCN-treated plants were heavily foliated at full bloom, while non-treated plants had very few to no leaves during bloom. HCN may be useful for stimulating vegetative growth in some southern highbush blueberry cultivars that suffer from poor foliation during flowering and fruit set.

scholarly journals Cold Hardiness and Options for the Freeze Protection of Southern Highbush Blueberry

Agriculture ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erick D. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Cold Hardiness ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Critical Temperatures ◽  
Overhead Irrigation ◽  
Frost Protection ◽  
Southern Highbush ◽  
Freeze Protection

Southern highbush blueberries (SHB; Vaccinium corymbosum interspecific hybrid) are a low chill species of blueberry that are commercially grown in sub-tropical climates. Due to the nature of SHB, the flowering and fruit set occur in mid-winter to early spring and are susceptible to freeze damage. The most effective use of freeze protection is based on climatic conditions. Identification of advective or radiative freeze, intensity of the freeze event, and the equipment deployed are the key elements for deciding if the crop can be protected and justifying the expense to operate the system. Of the various methods used in frost protection, applying overhead irrigation water is the most promising. During a freeze event, an application of 6.3 mm ha−1 (0.10 in A−1) of water per hour is required to protect blueberries from −2.8 °C (27 °F) temperature with winds from 0 to 16 km h−1 (0 to 10 mph). This is 25.4 kL h−1 ha−1 (2715 gal h−1 A−1) of water. Overhead irrigation freeze protection is dependent on large volumes of water. This paper will review methods of freeze/frost protection, importance of weather patterns, and critical temperatures based on phenology of flowering to fruit set.

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