Performance of some highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) varieties and promising selections organically grown

• Published in: Acta horticulturae no. 981; pp. 237 - 242
• Main Authors: Mladin, P, Chiţu, E, Sumedrea, M, Coman, M, Chiţu, V, Mladin, G.H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: International Society for Horticultural Science 2013
• Subjects: acidity; blueberries; breeding; carbon dioxide; cultivars; firmness; genotype; microirrigation; mulches; mulching; peat; photosynthesis; production technology; sawdust; sodding; soil; soluble solids; spring; stomatal conductance; Vaccinium corymbosum
• ISSN: 0567-7572

Some cultural practices, such as, the use of deep mulching, improving the planting substrate and sodded row-middles, work for both conventional and organic blueberry production systems. During 2008-2010, 11 varieties and promising selections resulted of the blueberry breeding program developed at the RIFG Pitesti, were evaluated within an experimental plot. The goal of this study was the evaluation of some cultivars and promising selections, in terms of the most important agro-biological characteristics, grown on sawdust planting substrate comparing with peat substrate in order to highlight those genotypes that gives the best results under the sawdust as planting substrate, giving so a chipper alternative for the improving of the soil for blueberry crop. The experiment was established in spring 2008 using two improved agro-funds: 1) sawdust, 10-12 kg mixed with soil per each planting hole and 2) 10 kg acid peat per hole. Sawdust mulch along the row and drip irrigation was used. The soil of the experimental plot was alluvial type, unstructured and acid reaction (pH- 5.23-5.63). 3 m x 1 m planting distances and linearly arranged variants were used. Genotypes were followed in terms of yield, physical and technological characteristics of the berries. In addition, the genotypes were compared by photo-synthesis and respiration rates and stomatal conductance. On total genotypes, sawdust induced a significantly decrease of the yield compared with peat substrate, a slight increase in berry weight and in soluble solids and decrease in berry firmness and acidity. ‘Delicia’, followed in descending order by ‘Lax’, ‘Simultan’ and ‘E 5/21’ gave the highest yield on sawdust. The photosynthesis rate ranged from 10.17 µmol CO2 m-2 s-1 at ‘Delicia’ variety to 4.48 µmol CO2 m-2 s-1 at ‘Lax’ variety and respiration rate from 4.661 mmol m-2 s-1 at ‘Vital’ cv. to 1.913 mmol m-2 s-1 at ‘Lax’ variety.