Submitted to: Blueberry Research Extension North American Workers Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: April 15, 2006
Publication Date: June 1, 2006
Citation: Ehlenfeldt, M.K. 2006. Parthenocarpic fruit development in highbush blueberry (vaccinium corymbosum l.). Blueberry Research Extension North American Workers Conference Proceedings. P. 82-84.
Technical Abstract:
During 2004 and 2005 we evaluated 20 and 41 half-sib populations, respectively, (comprised of >3000 individuals in total) segregating for the trait of parthenocarpic fruit production. Among these populations, approximately 80 parthenocarpic individuals were identified. In general, three categories of segregants have been observed: normal types, small/low seeded types, and parthenocarpic types. Initial evaluations suggest that the trait is recessive, but that it exhibits phenotypic dosage effects at the tetraploid level (e.g. small/low seeded types). The dosage effects are expected to allow easier recognition and manipulation of plants carrying higher frequencies of this allele. Crosses were made in 2005 between different classes to further investigate genetics and recovery of this trait, and to build breeding populations. The lesser vigor (in many cases) of parthenocarpic clones suggests that this material will be most useful, initially, for enhancing fruit development in heterozygous types, and in improving fruit quality by reducing seed development.
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