Published in Scientific Papers. Series B, Horticulture, Vol. LXV, Issue 1
Written by Oana HERA, Răzvan TEODORESCU, Monica STURZEANU
Cutivated blueberies (Vaccinium corymbosum) are known as some of the most important berries for health support, being highly valued for fresh consumption, having sizes two to four times larger than those of wild blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus), and the nutrient content exceeds those of black blueberry or wild blueberry in the spontaneous flora. This species prefers temperate climate and precipitation more than 700 mm annually. Over the last one hundred years, the geographical area cultivated with the blueberry is widely expanded. European countries have gradually become interested about North American blueberry. The highbush breeding programme began in 1908. The main objectives of the breeding programme are: increased adaptability on low acid soils (pH to 6), extending the harvest season, improving the quality parameters of the fruits (weight, firmness, dry pedicelar scar, high sugar content, thick pruin layer). As a research methodology, it is used the selection of germplasm genitors, the directed hybridization, the production of biological material for nurseries, the evaluation of hybrids and of new selections. As a results of blueberry breeding programme, in the last decade, in the world over 342 blueberry cultivars were registered.
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