scholarly journals An Energy Balance Model for Predicting Berry Temperature and Scheduling Sprinklers for Cooling in Northern Highbush Blueberry

HortScience ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Fan-Hsuan Yang ◽  
David R. Bryla ◽  
R. Troy Peters
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Size ◽  
Weather Forecast ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽  
Weather Data ◽  
Balance Model ◽  
Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Cooling Efficiency ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Northern Highbush Blueberry

Heat-related fruit damage is a prevalent issue in northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in various growing regions, including the northwestern United States. To help address the issue, we developed a simple climatological model to predict blueberry fruit temperatures based on local weather data and to simulate the effects of using over-canopy sprinklers for cooling the fruit. Predictions of fruit temperature on sunny days correlated strongly with the actual values (R2 = 0.91) and had a root mean-square error of ≈2 °C. Among the parameters tested, ambient air temperature and light intensity had the greatest impact on fruit temperature, whereas wind speed and fruit size had less impact, and relative humidity had no impact. Cooling efficiency was estimated successfully under different sprinkler cooling intervals by incorporating a water application factor that was calculated based on the amount of water applied and the time required for water to evaporate from the fruit surface between the intervals. The results indicate that water temperature and nozzle flow rate affected the extent to which cooling with sprinklers reduced fruit temperature. However, prolonging the runtime of the sprinklers did not guarantee lower temperatures during cooling, because cooling efficiency declined as the temperature of the fruit approached the temperature of the irrigation water. Users could incorporate the model into weather forecast programs to predict the incidence of heat damage and could use it to make cooling decisions in commercial blueberry fields.

scholarly journals Critical Temperatures and Heating Times for Fruit Damage in Northern Highbush Blueberry

HortScience ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (12) ◽  
pp. 2231-2239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fan-Hsuan Yang ◽  
David R. Bryla ◽  
Bernadine C. Strik
Keyword(s):  
Ambient Air ◽  
Initial Study ◽  
Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽  
Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Stages Of Development ◽  
Critical Temperatures ◽  
Heat Damage ◽  
Extreme Heat Event ◽  
Northern Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Fruit Damage

Over-canopy sprinkler systems are used to cool northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) fields and maintain fruit quality in the northwestern United States, but more information is needed to determine exactly when cooling is needed. The objective of this study was to identify the critical temperatures for heat damage to berries and for effective evaporative cooling. An initial study conducted in western Oregon in a mature planting of late-season ‘Elliott’ blueberry revealed that heat damage was typically observed within 1 to 3 days after an extreme heat event. Fruit damage, including softening, shriveling, and necrosis, occurred during both green and blue stages of development and was found primarily on sun-exposed berries, which on hot, sunny days (>35 °C) were 7 to 11 °C warmer than the ambient air temperature. A subsequent study was conducted to determine whether the critical temperature for heat damage differed between the green and blue fruit stages. In this case, ‘Aurora’ was compared with ‘Elliott’ blueberry. Berries were heated using a chamber-free convective unit and were exposed for up to 4 hours to berry temperatures of 42, 44, 46, and 48 °C. When the berries were green, significant damage was visible at each temperature within 1.5 to 2 hours in ‘Aurora’ and 3 to 3.5 hours in ‘Elliott’. Damage of green berries increased with time and temperature, and after 4 hours, ranged from 17% to 59% of the total berry number in the cluster in ‘Aurora’ and 10% to 24% in ‘Elliott’. Fruit damage at the blue stage was less than at the green stage and was only significant at 46 and 48 °C (within 3.5 to 2 hours, respectively) in ‘Aurora’ and at 48 °C (within 2 hours) in ‘Elliott’. Wax and cutin layers thickened on the berries as they progressed from green to blue, which perhaps increased their tolerance to heat at later stages of development. Based on these results, northern highbush blueberry fields should be cooled at air temperatures >32 °C during the green stages of fruit development and >35 °C during ripening.

Bioregulators can improve fruit size, yield and plant growth of northern highbush blueberry ( Vaccinium corymbosum L.)

2018 ◽  
Vol 235 ◽  
pp. 214-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Biserka Milić ◽  
Jelena Tarlanović ◽  
Zoran Keserović ◽  
Nenad Magazin ◽  
Maja Miodragović ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽  
Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Northern Highbush Blueberry

scholarly journals Estimation of growth and yielding of five highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) cultivars

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dariusz Wach
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Size ◽  
Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽  
Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Brown Soil ◽  
Northern Highbush Blueberry

Estimation of growth and yielding of five highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosumL.) cultivarsIn the years 1996-1999, a study was conducted on the estimation of the growth and yielding of northern highbush blueberry on a brown soil developed from loess. The study comprised bushes from five highbush blueberry cultivars - ‘Bluecrop’, ‘Bluejay’, ‘Darrow’, ‘Herbert’ and ‘Jersey’ - aged from six to nine years since planting. ‘Bluecrop’ bushes were the tallest and those of ‘Darrow’ the shortest, but ‘Darrow’ was characterised by the largest number of annual shoots. The best yielding was ‘Darrow’ and its berries were the largest. ‘Bluejay’ and ‘Jersey’ produced the lowest yields. In the study, the highest estimate was awarded to ‘Darrow’ (number of annual shoots, yielding, fruit size), and ‘Bluecrop’ also proved to be a valuable cultivar.

scholarly journals Vitamin C and lutein content of northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) juice processed using freezing and thawing

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2521-2528
Author(s):  
Rafał Nadulski ◽  
Andrzej Masłowski ◽  
Artur Mazurek ◽  
Paweł Sobczak ◽  
Marek Szmigielski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin C ◽  
Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽  
Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Freezing And Thawing ◽  
Northern Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Lutein Content

scholarly journals Enhanced Bud Production in Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in Response to Paclobutrazol

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark K. Ehlenfeldt
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Ripening ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Shoot Elongation ◽  
Plant Size ◽  
Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽  
Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Flower Bud ◽  
Bud Formation ◽  
Bud Set ◽  
Determining Factor

Blueberry cultivars were treated with either soil drenches or foliar applications of paclobutrazol. Soil drenches of 25 mg·L-1 inhibited shoot elongation and stimulated earlier and greater flower bud production on `Bluetta', `Bluecrop', and `Jersey'. The treatments increased bud numbers 359% to 797%, and stimulated compound bud formation, while reducing formation of vegetative buds. This resulted in overcropping and reduced fruit size. Foliar applications at concentrations of 5, 10, 50, and 100 mg·L-1 increased bud set. Treatments did not significantly alter time to 50% flowering in `Bluecrop' or `Duke', but hastened flowering up to 5 days in `Blueray' at 200 ppm. Fruit ripening was significantly delayed at 100 and 200 ppm in `Bluecrop' due to overcropping, but no delays were observed in `Blueray' or `Duke'. Plant size and vigor appeared to be a determining factor in plant response. Chemical name used: PP333 or (2RS,3RS)-l(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(l,2,4-triazol-1-yl)pentan-3-ol (paclobutrazol).

scholarly journals Effects of Machine-Harvest Interval on Fruit Quality of Fresh Market Northern Highbush Blueberry

Horticulturae ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 245
Author(s):  
Yixin Cai ◽  
Fumiomi Takeda ◽  
Brian Foote ◽  
Lisa Wasko DeVetter
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Quality ◽  
Titratable Acidity ◽  
Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Labor Costs ◽  
Fresh Market ◽  
Harvest Intervals ◽  
Northern Highbush Blueberry

Machine harvesting blueberry (Vaccinium sp.) alleviates labor costs and shortages but can reduce fruit quality. Installation of softer catching surfaces inside modified over-the-row harvesters (modified OTR) and adjusting harvest intervals may improve fruit quality and packout. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of harvest interval on fruit quality of fresh market northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) harvested using a modified OTR. ‘Liberty’ blueberry bushes were harvested by hand or using a modified OTR at 3-, 10-, and 14-day intervals in 2019 and at 7-, 11-, and 14-day intervals in 2020. Hand-harvested ‘Liberty’ had greater packout and firmness than machine-harvested fruit. Machine harvesting at the 3-day interval in 2019, and the 14-day interval in 2020 reduced packout from 70–80% to 60% and 54%, respectively. In 2019, machine harvesting at a 3-day interval overall resulted in fruit with greater firmness, higher titratable acidity (TA), and lower total soluble solids (TSS) and SS/TA, compared to other harvest intervals. In 2020, the 7-day machine-harvest interval had a greater TA and lower TSS/TA, compared to the 11- and 14-day intervals. Overall, modified OTR machine-harvest intervals can be extended to 10–11 days for fresh market northern highbush cultivars such as ‘Liberty’ grown in northwest Washington.

scholarly journals Mixtures of Coal Ash and Compost as Substrates for Highbush Blueberry

2002 ◽  
Vol 127 (5) ◽  
pp. 869-877 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brent L. Black ◽  
Richard H. Zimmerman
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Size ◽  
Bottom Ash ◽  
Coal Ash ◽  
Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Elemental Content ◽  
Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Clay Loam ◽  
Fruit Samples ◽  
Total Growth

Bottom ash from a coal-fired power plant and two composts were tested as components of soil-free media and as soil amendments for growing highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). Combinations of ash and compost were compared to Berryland sand, and Manor clay loam, and compost amended Manor clay loam. The pH of all treatment media was adjusted to 4.5 with sulfur at the beginning of the experiment. In 1997, plants of `Bluecrop' and `Sierra' were planted in 15-dm3 pots containing the pH-adjusted treatment media. The first substantial crop was harvested in 1999. At the end of the 1999 season, one half of the plants were destructively harvested for growth analysis. The remaining plants were cropped again in 2000. Yield and fruit size data were collected in both seasons, and leaf and fruit samples were collected in 1999 for elemental analysis. The presence of coal ash or composted biosolids in the media had no detrimental effect on leaf or fruit elemental content. Total growth and yield of both cultivars was reduced in clay loam soil compared to Berryland sand, whereas growth and yield of plants in coal ash-compost was similar to or exceeded that of plants in Berryland sand.

scholarly journals Compost Feedstock and Compost Acidification Affect Growth and Mineral Nutrition in Northern Highbush Blueberry

HortScience ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 1067-1076 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan C. Costello ◽  
Dan M. Sullivan ◽  
David R. Bryla ◽  
Bernadine C. Strik ◽  
James S. Owen
Keyword(s):  
Root Growth ◽  
Mineral Nutrition ◽  
C:N Ratio ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Total N ◽  
Shoot Dry Weight ◽  
Northern Highbush Blueberry

New markets for organic northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) have stimulated interest in using composts specifically tailored to the plant’s edaphic requirements. Because composts are typically neutral to alkaline in pH (pH 7 to 8), and blueberry requires acidic soil (pH 4.2 to 5.5), we investigated elemental sulfur (S0) addition as a methodology for reducing compost pH. The objectives were to 1) characterize initial compost chemistry, including the pH buffering capacity of compost (acidity required to reduce pH to 5.0), 2) measure changes in compost chemistry accompanying acidification, and 3) evaluate plant growth and mineral nutrition of blueberry in soil amended with an untreated or acidified compost. Ten composts prepared from diverse feedstocks were obtained from municipalities and farms. Addition of finely ground S0 reduced compost pH from 7.2 to 5.3, on average, after 70 d at 22 °C, and increased the solubility of nutrients, including K (from 22 to 36 mmol(+)/L), Ca (from 5 to 19 mmol(+)/L), Mg (from 5 to 20 mmol(+)/L), and Na (from 6 to 9 mmol(+)/L). Sulfate-S, a product of S0 oxidation, also increased from 5 to 45 mmol(−)/L. The composts were incorporated into soil at a high rate (30% v/v) in a greenhouse trial to evaluate their suitability for use in blueberry production. Shoot and root growth were strongly affected by compost chemical characteristics, including pH and electrical conductivity (EC). Potassium in compost was highly variable (2–32 g·kg−1). Concentration of K in the leaves increased positively in response to compost K, whereas shoot dry weight and root growth declined. Leaf Mg also declined in response to compost K, suggesting that elevated K concentrations in compost may cause Mg deficiency. Composts with the highest K were also high in total N, pH, and EC. Compost acidification to pH ≤ 6 improved growth and increased leaf Mg concentration. On the basis of these results, composts derived from animal manures or young plant tissues (e.g., green leaves) appear to be unsuitable for high-rate applications to blueberry because they usually require high amounts of S0 for acidification and are often high in EC and K, whereas those derived from woody materials, such as local yard debris, appear promising based on their C:N ratio, compost acidification requirement, and EC.

scholarly journals Flower Bud Density Affects Vegetative and Fruit Development in Field-grown Southern Highbush Blueberry

HortScience ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 607-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
B.E. Maust ◽  
J.G. Williamson ◽  
R.L. Darnell
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Area ◽  
Fruit Development ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽  
Soluble Solids ◽  
Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Flower Buds ◽  
Flower Bud ◽  
Southern Highbush

Floral budbreak and fruit set in many southern highbush blueberry (SHB) cultivars (hybrids of Vaccinium corymbosum L. with other species of Vaccinium) begin prior to vegetative budbreak. Experiments were conducted with two SHB cultivars, `Misty' and `Sharpblue', to test the hypothesis that initial flower bud density (flower buds/m cane length) affects vegetative budbreak and shoot development, which in turn affect fruit development. Flower bud density of field-grown plants was adjusted in two nonconsecutive years by removing none, one-third, or two-thirds of the flower buds during dormancy. Vegetative budbreak, new shoot dry weight, leaf area, and leaf area: fruit ratios decreased with increasing flower bud density in both cultivars. Average fruit fresh weight and fruit soluble solids decreased in both cultivars, and fruit ripening was delayed in `Misty' as leaf area: fruit ratios decreased. This study indicates that because of the inverse relationship between flower bud density and canopy establishment, decreasing the density of flower buds in SHB will increase fruit size and quality and hasten ripening.

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