scholarly journals Evergreen Production System for Southern Highbush Blueberries in Florida

EDIS ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Doug Phillips ◽  
Jeffrey G Williamson ◽  
Patricio R Munoz
Keyword(s):  
Production System ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Early Flowering ◽  
North Central ◽  
Central Florida ◽  
South Central ◽  
Highbush Blueberries ◽  
Southern Highbush

In central and south-central Florida, many southern highbush blueberries (SHB) are grown in an evergreen system, in which the plants do not go dormant, and are managed to retain their leaves from the previous year through harvest the following spring to support early flowering and fruit set. The evergreen system has also been used under tunnels in north-central Florida. This new 3-page publication of the UF/IFAS Horticultural Sciences Department, written by Douglas A. Phillips, Jeffrey G. Williamson, and Patricio R. Munoz, provides an overview of the evergreen production system for SHB in Florida.

scholarly journals 526 Hydrogen Cyanamide Hastens Fruit Development and Increases Fruit Yield and Berry Size of Blueberry

HortScience ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 536C-536
Author(s):  
J.G. Williamson ◽  
E.P. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Development ◽  
Fruit Yield ◽  
Yield Response ◽  
Flower Bud ◽  
North Central ◽  
Hydrogen Cyanamide ◽  
Central Florida ◽  
Berry Size ◽  
Southern Highbush ◽  
The Times

Field-grown `Misty', `Star', and `Southmoon' southern highbush, and `Climax' rabbiteye blueberry plants were sprayed to drip with 0, 7.7 and 15.4 g·L–1 concentrations of hydrogen cyanamide in north central Florida on 17 Dec. 1997 and 6 Jan. 1998. Plants were dormant with slightly swollen flower buds (stage 2) at the times of applications. The extent and earliness of vegetative budbreak were increased by both hydrogen cyanamide sprays. Hydrogen cyanamide also increased mean fruit fresh weights and reduced fruit development periods for `Misty', `Southmoon' and `Climax' but not for `Star'. Yield response to hydrogen cyanamide was variable among cultivars. Fruit yields of `Misty' and `Climax' increased slightly by 7.7 g·L–1 sprays and decreased significantly by 15.4 g·L–1 sprays. In that case, increased fruit yields appeared to be the result of greater mean fruit fresh weights while reduced yields resulted from significant flower bud thinning that occurred at the highest spray concentration. Both hydrogen cyanamide spray concentrations increased fruit yield for `Southmoon' and decreased fruit yield for `Star' when compared to controls. Spray date had no effect on fruit yield and little effect on fruit development period. Hydrogen cyanamide has potential for increasing fruit quality and earliness of some blueberry cultivars that are grown in the lower southeastern United States.

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 (93) Vegetative and Flower Bud Development, and Fruit Set of Low-chill Peach Cultivars in North-central, Central, and Southwest Florida

HortScience ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 1029A-1029
Author(s):  
Todd Wert ◽  
Jeffrey G. Williamson ◽  
Robert E. Rouse
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Set ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Flower Buds ◽  
Flower Bud ◽  
North Central ◽  
Bud Development ◽  
Central Florida ◽  
Southwest Florida ◽  
Vegetative Buds ◽  
Flower Bud Development

Four low-chill peach cultivars were evaluated at three locations in Florida for vegetative and reproductive bud development and fruit set. Twenty trees (five each of `Flordaprince', `Tropicbeauty', `UFgold', and `Flordaglo') were planted at each site in Feb. 2002. Prior to budbreak in Spring 2004 and 2005, three shoots per tree of average length and diameter were selected at a height between 1.5–2.0 m and the numbers of vegetative and flower buds per node were recorded for each shoot. No consistent pattern for the number of vegetative buds per node was observed among cultivars and locations, or across years. However, 'Tropicbeauty' tended to have fewer vegetative buds per node than `Flordaprince' during both seasons, although not at all locations. Overall, the number of flower buds per node was greater for north-central Florida than for central or southwest Florida. There were no consistent tends over years and among locations for the ranked order of flower buds per node by cultivar. The percentage of nodes without flower or vegetative buds (blind nodes) was generally greatest for `Tropicbeauty' at most locations during both years. During 2005, the percentage of blind nodes was greater in central and southwest Florida than in north-central Florida. Overall, fruit set was similar between the central and north-central Florida locations. Fruit set tended to be higher for `UFGold' and `Flordaglo' than for `Flordaprince' or `Tropicbeauty'.

Florida Peaches: A Perfect Snack

EDIS ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joy N. Rumble ◽  
Kara Harders ◽  
Kathryn Stofer
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Program ◽  
Stone Fruit ◽  
Citrus Greening ◽  
Fruit Breeding ◽  
University Of Florida ◽  
North Central ◽  
Central Florida ◽  
South Central ◽  
Growing Conditions ◽  
The University

For many years peach orchards were limited to geographic areas with an adequate number of hours below 45 degrees Fahrenheit, during the colder months, also known as “Chill hours” (University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, 2017). In 1952, a stone fruit breeding program started at the University of Florida with a goal of breeding trees which would produce peaches and nectarines to grow in Florida (Olmstead, Chaparro, Anderson, Williamson, & Ferguson, 2016). In recent decades, horticulturalists have developed peach varieties requiring fewer chill hours. This trait now allows peaches to be commercially produced in Florida (Olmstead et al., 2016). Growing peaches in Florida has been identified as a practical option for citrus farmers who have lost groves to citrus greening. As a result, much of the peach production in Florida is centralized areas where citrus was once prevalent, Central and South Central Florida. However, there are also some peach orchards in North and North Central Florida (Olmstead et al., 2016).   The growing conditions in Florida, have given Florida peaches unique characteristics that make them an ideal spring-time snack. In this document, we will discuss the unique Florida peach, including its smaller size, seasonality, tree-ripened sweetness, and health benefits. Lastly, we will leave you with recommendations to keep your Florida peaches fresh as long as possible.

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 FRUITING IN SOUTHERN HIGHBUSH BLUEBERRIES: POLLEN SOURCE AND HONEY BEE POLLINATION EFFICIENCY

HortScience ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 613f-614
Author(s):  
Robert G. Danka ◽  
Gregory A. Lang
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bees ◽  
Fruit Set ◽  
Floral Morphology ◽  
Vaccinium Corymbosum ◽  
Fruit Weight ◽  
Bee Pollination ◽  
Bee Foraging ◽  
Highbush Blueberries ◽  
Southern Highbush ◽  
Net Cages

`Gulfcoast' southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum × V. darrowi) plants were placed in 3 × 6 × 2.5 m net cages with one colony of honey bees per cage and one of three pollinizer treatments: “self (other `Gulfcoast' plants), “cross/highbush” (other southern highbush cultivars), or “cross/rabbiteye” (various rabbiteye blueberry cultivars). In addition to unlimited pollination, bee foraging was controlled on individual flowers by placing small bags over corollas after 0, 1, 5, or 10 visits. Fruit set, fruit weight, fruit development period, and seed number data were taken, as well as data to relate floral morphology to duration of bee foraging. All measures of fruiting increased significantly with increased bee visitation; the threshold for significant gains in production occurred between 1 and 5 visits. Ten visits generally provided a good approximation of unlimited pollination. Set, weight, and earliness of ripening was as good, or better, for fruit derived from rabbiteye pollen compared to fruit from self- or cross/highbush-pollination.

Hydrogen Cyanamide Increases Leafing and Reduces Fruit Development Period of Southern Highbush Blueberry

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 529c-529
Author(s):  
J.G. Williamson ◽  
B.E. Maust ◽  
R.L. Darnell
Keyword(s):  
Fruit Development ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Highbush Blueberry ◽  
Flower Bud ◽  
North Central ◽  
Hydrogen Cyanamide ◽  
Central Florida ◽  
Fruit Thinning ◽  
Fruit Maturity ◽  
Southern Highbush

Mature, field-grown `Misty' southern highbush blueberry plants were sprayed to drip with 0, 20.4, and 10.2 g·L–1 concentrations of hydrogen cyanamide in north-central Florida on 20 Dec. and 7 Jan. 1996–97. Plants were dormant and leafless, with slightly swollen flower buds, at the time of spray applications. All hydrogen cyanamide sprays increased the extent and earliness of vegetative budbreak and canopy establishment. The number of vegetative budbreaks per centimeter of shoot length increased linearly with increasing spray concentration of hydrogen cyanamide. Hydrogen cyanamide-treated fruit had greater average fresh weights and shorter average fruit development periods than non-treated fruit. On 15 Apr., 40% ti 60% of hydrogen cyanamide-treated fruit were ripe compared to about 10% of control fruit. Some flower bud damage and subsequent fruit thinning was observed from the 20.4 g·L–1 spray, especially at the later spray date. Hydrogen cyanamide shows potential for increasing early fruit maturity and fruit size of some southern highbush blueberry cultivars in Florida.

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.

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