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Abstract
Sugar concentration in nectar from ‘Jersey’ variety blueberry blossoms was significantly higher than that from ‘Rubel’. Nectar volume was not significantly different for the 2 varieties. For both varieties sugar concentration increased as the day progressed and volume of nectar decreased. As the blossoms aged, nectar concentration and volume increased for both varieties. Paper chromatographic analysis of nectar from both varieties indicated no differences in component sugars.
Abstract
A significantly higher percentage of blueberry pollen germinated from the variety ‘Rubel’ than from ‘Jersey’. Germination of pollen from both varieties decreased with blossom age. The ‘Rubel’ variety had a longer optimum period of germination than did the ‘Jersey’. The number of pollen grains released by the ‘Rubel’ blossoms also appeared to be greater than that of the ‘Jersey’. Differences in pollen germination and production may explain differences in fruit production under conditions of low pollinator levels. Multiple germination tubes were produced by both varieties of blueberry pollen.
Abstract
Mechanical pollination trials using air blasts and vibration to distribute pollen were conducted on the highbush blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum cvs. ‘Jersey’ and ‘Rubel’. Neither treatment nor a simultaneous combination of the two gave commercial fruit set for either cultivar. Mechanical trials on the ‘Rubel’ cultivar indicated almost total failure to effect pollination. Production from ‘Jersey’ cultivar mechanical pollination trials was more promising. However, low seed numbers indicated that the increased production of this cultivar might be due to its tendency to set fruit parthenocarpically.