| dc.description.abstract | Blueberry production has expanded rapidly worldwide over the past two decades due to increasing
consumer demand, recognized health benefits, and high market value. In the southeastern United
States, blueberry production plays a significant role in the fresh-market industry, with southern
highbush (SHB; Vaccinium corymbosum L. interspecific hybrids) and rabbiteye (RE; Vaccinium
virgatum Ait.) blueberries serving as the primary cultivated ecotypes. SHB cultivars dominate
early-season markets due to their superior fruit quality and early ripening, particularly in leading
production states such as Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina. In contrast, Alabama's blueberry
industry remains relatively small and is largely dependent on RE cultivars.
RE blueberries are well adapted to the southeastern climate due to their tolerance to heat, drought,
and variable soil conditions, making them a preferred choice for small and mid-sized growers with
limited resources. They require fewer inputs and are more resilient to environmental stresses
compared to SHB cultivars. However, their commercial competitiveness is limited by
comparatively lower fruit quality, later ripening, and a narrow genetic base, as many cultivars are
only a few generations from their wild ancestor. In contrast, SHB blueberries have benefited from
intensive breeding efforts, resulting in improved fruit quality, early market entry, and greater
commercial value. However, their production requires higher management inputs, including soil
amendments, irrigation, and frost protection, making them less suitable for small-scale growers in
regions like Alabama. This disparity in breeding focus and cultivar development has contributed to differences in production scale between Alabama and neighboring states, where SHBdominated systems have expanded rapidly.
To accelerate rabbiteye blueberry improvement, this study evaluated advanced RE selections and
new RE cultivars in Central and South Alabama. In addition, the performance of RE genotypes
were compared with standard cultivars to identify genotypes with improved performance. Field
trials were conducted over two years (2024–2025) at the E.V. Smith Research Center (Tallassee,
AL) and the Brewton Agricultural Research Unit (Brewton, AL), focusing on yield, fruit quality,
and phenological traits.
The results demonstrated significant variation among genotypes, with several selections along with
released cultivars exhibiting improved yield, balanced fruit quality, and early ripening. In the
Central Alabama location, genotypes such as Ochlocknee, Overtime, T-3075, and MS1228
exhibited higher yields compared to other genotypes evaluated. In the South Alabama location,
MS1234 exhibited higher yields than other genotypes evaluated in that environment. Overall,
southern highbush cultivars tended to have higher TSS:TA and shorter bloom to harvest window
than rabbiteye genotypes in both locations across two seasons. A few RE genotypes, such as
Brightwell showed higher TSS:TA ratio and MS1110 exhibited shorter bloom-to-harvest window
than other RE genotypes. These findings highlighted the improvements made in advanced RE
selections and new cultivars to reduce the gap between RE and SHB, especially in larger fruit size
and shortened bloom-to-harvest window. The information provided in this study is also helpful for
recommending RE cultivars for Alabama growers to adopt. | en_US |
