Using Vaccinium Arboreum (Sparkleberry) to Increase Soil Adaptation and Mechanical Harvest Efficiency of Blueberry

Using Vaccinium arboreum (sparkleberry) to increase soil adaptation and mechanical harvest efficiency of blueberry Rebecca Darnell Horticultural Sciences Department University of Florida Gainesville, FL Blueberry industry in FL • Southern highbush blueberry • Based on V. corymbosum • Hybrids with wild species native to the southeastern U.S. • V. elliottii / V. darrowii / V. virgatum UF breeding program Jim Olmstead • Flavor • Crisp texture • Winter chilling requirement • Soil adaptation • Mechanical harvesting Soil adaptation Blueberry soils Mineral soils • Acidic • pH>6.0 • High organic • Low organic matter matter • Accumulate NO3 • NH4 over NH4 Photos: J. Williamson/J. Olmstead NH4 NO3 Most FL soils require amendments to be suitable for crop production Photo: J. Williamson Bark beds Bark incorporated into soil Incorporated bark with ground cloth Pine bark increases organic matter, decreases soil pH, maintains N in NH4 form Greatly increases establishment costs of SHB planting in Florida Photos: J. Williamson Q1. Are there Vaccinium species native to higher pH (nitrate predominant N form), low om soils, where amendments wouldn’t be needed? UF breeding program Mechanical harvesting Mechanical harvesting Photo: J. Williamson Harvesting Hand-harvested – Expensive – Labor intensive – Low availability Q2. Are there Vaccinium species that have an architecture more adaptable to mechanical harvesting? Vaccinium arboreum “Sparkleberry” • Native to the southeastern US • Tree-like growth habit • Deep root system – drought tolerant • Tolerates low organic matter soil, pH up to 6.5 • N primarily in NO3 form N uptake in sparkleberry vs blueberry 0.30 sparkleberry 0.25 blueberry 0.20 /plant/day) 0.15 mmol 0.10 0.05 N uptakeN ( 0.00 NH4 NO3 Nitrate reduction in sparkleberry vs blueberry 600 sparkleberry blueberry /g FW/h) 400 nmol 200 NR activity ( activity NR 0 NH4 NO3 NO3 uptake and assimilation in sparkleberry is greater than in blueberry Can we use sparkleberry to increase adaptation of blueberry to more mineral soils? Sparkleberry has a tree-like architecture And increase mechanical harvesting potential? Grafted vs Own-rooted Pine bark amended vs non-amended soil Meadowlark & Farthing grafted Summer 2010. Field planted May 2011 2-yr-old ‘Meadowlark’ SHB Grafted Own-rooted Leaf nutrient concentration – Summer 2012 N* P K Mg Ca B Fe* Cultivar Trt % % % % % ppm ppm M’lark Own/Soil 1.56 0.10 a 0.57 0.14 0.66 49.17 ab 51.00 Own/Bark 1.50 0.09 b 0.49 0.15 0.72 58.83 a 47.50 Graft/Soil 1.49 0.10 a 0.56 0.15 0.67 45.67 b 48.00 Graft/Bark 1.52 0.10 a 0.55 0.14 0.69 48.17 ab 45.17 Farthing Own/Soil 1.61 0.09 0.52 0.16 0.72 50.50 a 48.83 Own/Bark 1.57 0.09 0.52 0.16 0.73 45.17 b 48.83 Graft/Soil 1.67 0.10 0.56 0.15 0.71 48.33 ab 49.17 Graft/Bark 1.64 0.10 0.57 0.15 0.69 49.83 a 48.67 Sufficiency ranges: 1.7-2.0 0.10-0.40 0.41-0.70 0.13-0.25 0.41-0.80 31-80 61-200 (Hart et al., 2006) % % % % % ppm ppm Flower buds/shoot - 2013 6 a 5 a a a ab a 4 b b 3 2 Flower Flower cm buds/15 shoot 1 0 Own/Soil Own/Bark Graft/Soil Graft/Bark Own/Soil Own/Bark Graft/Soil Graft/Bark Farthing Meadowlark Bloom progression in ‘Farthing’ - 2013 100 90 80 70 60 50 Own/Soil 40 Own/Bark Bloom (%) Bloom 30 Grafted/Soil 20 Grafted/Bark 10 0 Jan-13 Feb-13 Feb-13 Feb-13 Mar-13 Mar-13 Mar-13 Date Bloom period averaged 7 days shorter in grafted compared with own-rooted ‘Farthing’ Bloom progression in ‘Meadowlark’ - 2013 100 95 90 85 Own/Soil 80 Own/Bark 75 Bloom (%) Bloom Grafted/Soil 70 Grafted/Bark 65 60 Jan-13 Feb-13 Feb-13 Feb-13 Mar-13 Mar-13 Mar-13 Date …and in ‘Meadowlark’ 3000 a 2500 2000 b b 1500 b 1000 Total yield (g) yield Total 500 0 Own/Soil Own/Bark Grafted/Soil Grafted/Bark 3000 a 2500 2000 b b 1500 b 1000 Total yield (g)yield Total 500 0 Own/Soil Own/Bark Grafted/Soil Grafted/Bark Flower buds/shoot Flower Canopy volume Own/Soil Own/Bark Graft/Soil Graft/Bark Own/Soil Own/Bark Graft/Soil Graft/Bark • Yields in mature plantings? Photo: J.Spiers • Mechanical harvest ability? • Postharvest fruit quality? Blueberry Trees? .

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