An Lijia Professor of Dalian University of Technology

President of Lanfeng Agricultural Technology co., LTD

Investigation and Analysis of Dominant Blueberry Varieties for Different Regions

in China

Commercial value Flavor Good storage quality Large size berry

High yield Regional adaptability Heat or cold tolerance High yield and consistent productive ability Continuous harvest with selected varieties

The basis of investigation and analysis on dominant varieties

for different region in China

Major blueberry production areas in China

Northern China to Central China Liaoning Shandong

Central China Anhui Jiangsu Hubei Shanxi

Central China to Southern China Sichuan Chongqing Zhejiang

Main blueberry production regions in China

Growth habits 2 m tall; Moderate vigor ， open ； yield 1000kg per acre.

Commercial value Fruit ripen early; Average fruit weight 1.9g; Excellent flavor; Fruit stores and ships well; The preferred selective variety for fresh markets.

‘O’neal’— Early season southern highbush variety

Suitable areas

The dominant variety for greenhouse growth in

Liaoning and Shandong.

The dominant variety for field culture and plastic

tunnel culture in southern Yangtze river.

Growing techniques

Bushes are weak vigor, strengthen irrigation and

nutrition management are required;

Fruit cracking occurs easily in rainy season, rain

shelters are required in the field.

Misty’—Early to mid season southern highbush cultivar

Growth habits

2 m tall;

Vigorous, upright, open;

Yield1000kg berry per acre.

Commercial value

Early to mid season variety;

Average berry weight of 1.65g;

Excellent shipping/storage quality;

Preferred selective variety for fresh market.

Suitable areas

Similar to O’neal;

Cross pollination is available with O’neal.

Cultural practices

Percentage of fruit setting is high. Heavy pruning is required to avoid over-cropping.

‘Legacy’—Mid-season southern highbush variety

Growth habits2m tall; Very vigorous; Open, Upright; Consistently productive; Yield 1000kg berry per acre.

Commercial valueMid-season variety; Average berry weight of 2.0g ；Shipping/storage quality is well ；The preferred selective variety for fresh market sales.

Suitable areas

The dominant variety in Yangtze river basin and southern Yangtze river areas such as Zhejiang province.

Cultural practices

High percentage of fruit setting, an appropriate pruning is required before blooming to maintain berry size.

‘NanDa’—Early to mid season southern high bush variety

Growth habits2m tall; Vigorous, semi-open ；Yield 1000kg per acre.

Commercial valueAn early to mid season variety;Fruit ripen 3-5 days early than Legacy;Average berry weight of 1.9g;Excellent shipping/storage characteristics;The preferred selective variety for fresh market sale.

Suitable areas

The dominant variety for areas from Yangtze river basin to Zhejiang.

Cultural practices

Cross pollination is available with Legacy.

Percentage of fruit setting is high; Pruning before blooming could increase the berry weight.

Nanjin’—Early to mid-season southern high bush

variety Growth habit2m tall; Very vigorous, open; Excellent stress tolerant ability, develop normally on poor soil condition; Very productive; Yield average 1500kg per acre.

Commercial valueEarly to mid-season variety;Ripen 8 days later than O’neal;Average berry weight of 1.3g;High sugar content (14.5-19.0%);Good flavor ；Suitable for both fresh and processing use.

Suitable areasThe dominant variety for areas from Southern Yangtze river to Zhejiang province.

Cultural practices The percentage of fruit setting is very high; Pruning severity before blooming could increase berry size.Delaying harvest operation could be adopted to increase sugar content of fruits when used for processing.

Duke’—Early season northern high bush

variety Growth habits2m tall; Moderate vigorous; Erect, open; Yield 1000kg fruit per acre.

Commercial valueFruit ripens early;Average berry weight of 2.1g;Excellent shipping/storage quality;Excellent flavor; The preferred selective cultivar for fresh market.

Suitable areas for planting The dominant variety for greenhouse and field culture in Liaoning and Shandong province.

Cultural practices Perform poorly when soil pH and fertility are not optimal. Strengthen management is required on irrigation and fertilization .

‘Lanyuan’—Early to mid-season

northern high bush variety Growth habits2m tall; Vigorous, open; Good productive ability; Yield 1000kg per acre.

Commercial valueEarly to mid season variety;Average berry weight of 2.0g ；Excellent shipping/storage quality;Good flavor;Preferred selective variety for fresh market sale.

Suitable areasThe dormant variety for field culture in Yangzi river basin; The dormant variety for greenhouse growth in Liaoning and Shandong.

Cultural practicesThe percentage of fruit setting is very high; Pruning severity before blooming could increase berry size.

‘Brigitta’ —Mid season northern highbush variety

Growth habits2m tall; Very vigorous, upright, open; Yield 1000kg berry per acre.

Commercial valueA mid-season variety; Average berry weight of 2.1g;Excellent shipping/storage quality;Excellent flavor;Preferred selective variety for field culture intended for fresh Market.

Suitable areas The dormant variety for Yangtze river basin and part of southern Yangtze river.

Cultural practices The percentage of fruit setting may be reduced when suffering from high or low temperature. Need to pay attention to temperature management in blooming season

‘Bluecrop’—Mid-season northern highbush variety

Growth habits2m tall; Vigorous, upright, open; Yield 1000kg per acre.

Commercial valueMid-season variety;Average berry weight of 2.1g;Good shipping/storage quality;The optimal variety for field culture intended for fresh Market.

Suitable areas The most competitive variety for field culture in Liaoning and Shandong province.

Cultural practices Tends to overproduce if pruned incorrectly; Strengthening pruning before blooming could increase berry weight.

‘Elliott’—Late season northern highbush variety

Growth habits2m tall; Moderate vigorous, erect; Yield 1000kg per acre.

Commercial valueVery late season; Average fruit weight of 1.8g;Good shipping/storage quality;The preferred selective cultivar for field growth.

Suitable areas The dominant cultivar for field culture in Liaoning.

Plant technique Elliott has moderate vigor and adequately pruning is required to retain bush growth and berry size.

Basic principles of variety selection for blueberry

growers Good commercial value

Select dominant varieties as leading varieties

Select dominant varieties as pollinator

Avoid using multiple varieties when establishing blueberry orchard

Thanks