ARS | Publication request: Potential new blueberry cultivars for the Gulf Coast region of the U.S.

Submitted to: Acta Horticulture Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 13, 2008
Publication Date: March 16, 2009
Citation: Stringer, S.J., Spiers, J.M., Draper, A.D., Marshall, D.A. 2009. Potential new blueberry cultivars for the Gulf Coast region of the U.S. Acta Horticulture Proceedings. 87-91.

Technical Abstract: Several new elite rabbiteye and southern highbush blueberry strains developed from diverse origins and having potential for release as new blueberry cultivars for the Gulf Coast region of the U.S. have been developed. Promising new early ripening and vigorous new rabbiteye blueberry strains being considered for release include MS 632 and 706. Two additional rabbiteye blueberry strains, MS 282 and MS 454, ripen somewhat later but are very productive and have excellent fruit quality suitable for both fresh and processing markets. Another V. asheii derivative, MS 271, is also vigorous and highly productive, with fruit suitable for the processing and baking industry. MS 812 is a vigorous and productive, early-ripening southern highbush blueberry having excellent fruit quality suitable for the lucrative early fresh market. Upon release, these new cultivars will provide growers with vigorous and adapted new cultivars for use to exploit and capitalize on the increased profitability associated with early market windows, and also on profitability associated with high yielding cultivars with good fruit quality for the processing blueberry market.