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- Author or Editor: Patricio R. Muñoz x
‘Flicker’ is a southern highbush blueberry (SHB, Vaccinium corymbosum) cultivar frequently selected by growers in Central and South Florida. In 2014, several growers in Central Florida experienced issues with anthracnose stem lesions and twig dieback on ‘Flicker’, resulting in a reduction in new plantings and the removal of many existing plantings. The objective of this study was to determine the level of anthracnose susceptibility of certain commercially available SHB cultivars, which information can be used to limit further use of susceptible cultivars in the University of Florida blueberry breeding program. The screening was performed using a spray inoculation of a virulent Colletotrichum gloeosporioides isolate onto whole V. corymbosum plants, followed by measurement of incidence and severity of disease over time. In repeated experiments, ‘Flicker’ and two other cultivars had a significantly higher mean number of lesions and area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) than any other tested cultivar, and in both experiments, the observed lesions were similar in many respects to those previously reported on northern highbush blueberry (also V. corymbosum). Although the results of these experiments may ultimately indicate that Flicker has a unique genetic susceptibility to this form of anthracnose among SHB cultivars commercially grown in Florida, screening of additional cultivars must be performed for confirmation.
Southern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum interspecific hybrid) cultivation is a major industry in subtropical regions where low winter temperatures are infrequent and inconsistent. In Florida and other subtropical areas, growers use hydrogen cyanamide (HC) applications during endodormancy to mitigate the negative effects of low chill accumulation. Hydrogen cyanamide is a synthetic plant growth regulator that increases and expediates dormancy release and budbreak. However, southern highbush blueberry cultivars differ in their sensitivity to HC. Optimus and Colossus are two recently released cultivars from the University of Florida blueberry breeding program. The effects of HC in these cultivars are unknown. This research aimed to describe responses to HC applications at different rates for these new varieties. Experiments took place in a commercial farm in Waldo, FL, on 3- to 4-year-old deciduous blueberry bushes. HC was applied at rates of 3.8 g·L−1 (0.38%), 5.1 g·L−1 (0.50%), and 6.4 g g·L−1 (0.63%) in ‘Optimus’ and 3.8 g·L−1 (0.38%), 5.1 g·L−1 (0.50%), 6.4 g·L−1 (0.63%), and 7.7 g·L−1 (0.75%) in ‘Colossus’. In both cultivars, the control treatment was not sprayed. Vegetative bud count, and flower bud development, flower bud mortality, and yield were determined. HC application thinned reproductive buds and increased vegetative budbreak. Although seasonal yield was not increased, HC advanced fruit ripening early in the season.
Understanding consumers’ preferences for fruit quality attributes is key to informing breeding efforts, meeting consumer preferences, and promoting increased market demand. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of fruit quality traits and hedonic sensory evaluation on consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for a selection of fresh northern and southern highbush blueberry cultivars. The WTP was elicited by using a double-bounded contingent valuation conducted in conjunction with a consumer sensory test. Two types of models were estimated using either sensory evaluations (i.e., consumer preference and consumer intensity) or instrumental measurement data (i.e., measures of soluble solids, titratable acidity, sugars, acids, and firmness) as explanatory variables to model WTP. Results using sensory evaluations indicated that flavor liking, flavor intensity, and sweetness intensity are key factors that influence consumers’ acceptance and WTP for blueberries. A regression analysis using instrumental measurements indicated that measures related to sweetness and acidity traits are important factors that determine WTP. Higher WTP was associated with higher total sugar content across different levels of total organic acid. The WTP increases with organic acid content, because this is needed for enhanced flavor; however, WTP declines at high concentrations of organic acid. Except for extreme values of firmness, the WTP increased as measures of fruit firmness increased, indicating a consumer preference for firmer blueberries. Overall, the results provided new insights into the relationships between consumer preference and WTP and fruit quality benchmarks to select for improved quality.
Breeding programs around the world continually collect data on large numbers of individuals. To be able to combine data collected across regions, years, and experiments, research communities develop standard operating procedures for data collection and measurement. One such method is a crop ontology, or a standardized vocabulary for collecting data on commonly measured traits. The ontology is also computer readable to facilitate the use of data management systems such as databases. Blueberry breeders and researchers across the United States have come together to develop the first standardized crop ontology in blueberry (Vaccinium spp.). We provide an overview and report on the construction of the first blueberry crop ontology and the 178 traits and methods included within. Researchers of Vaccinium species—such as other blueberry species, cranberry, lingonberry, and bilberry—can use the described crop ontology to collect phenotypic data of greater quality and consistency, interoperability, and computer readability. Crop ontologies, as a shared data language, benefit the entire worldwide research community by enabling collaborative meta-analyses that can be used with genomic data for quantitative trait loci, genome-wide association studies, and genomic selection analysis.