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Al Kovaleski September, 2013

University of Florida Horticultural Sciences Department. Effect of timing and intensity of summer pruning on vegetative and reproductive traits of southern highbush blueberry. Al Kovaleski September, 2013. Blueberry summer pruning. No removal of flower buds Long growing season in FL

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Al Kovaleski September, 2013

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  1. University of Florida Horticultural Sciences Department Effect of timing and intensity of summer pruning on vegetative and reproductive traits of southern highbush blueberry Al Kovaleski September, 2013

  2. Blueberry summer pruning • No removal of flower buds • Long growing season in FL • Pruning promotes increased vigor • More support for reproductive structures

  3. Objectives Determine the effects of timing and severity of summer pruning: • Vegetative traits: • Plant volume • Regrowth • Timing of defoliation • Incidence of leaf spots • Incidence and severity of stem blight • Reproductive traits: • Flower bud initiation • Fruit set • Yield • Quality of fruit

  4. Plant material • Two cultivars • ‘Emerald’ and ‘Jewel’ • Six year old plants • Commercial cultural practices • PSREU – Citra, FL

  5. Treatments • No summer pruning control • Prune 30% early June • Prune 30% mid-July • Prune 30% early June+tip • Prune 60% early June+tip • Detailed hand pruning control www.caes.uga.edu

  6. Treatments Unpruned 30% 60%

  7. Vegetative traits • Canopy volume • Regrowth • Condition of fall foliage • Time of defoliation • Leaf spot

  8. Vegetative traits • Incidence and severity of Stem Blight

  9. Reproductive traits • Re-growth shoots collected to assess timing of flower bud initiation – Late summer until defoliation

  10. Reproductive traits • Harvest • Period • Yield • Fruit quality • Total soluble solids • Titratable acidity • Firmness • Average berry weight picturesbychristopher.wordpress.com Labmate-online.com

  11. Results to date

  12. Canopy volume - Emerald

  13. Regrowth volume - Emerald

  14. Flower bud initiation • Important to: • Develop management strategies to enhance flowering • Regulate fruit load • First sign of transition detectable

  15. Flower bud initiation

  16. Flower bud initiation

  17. Flower bud initiation • No differences between treatments • Emerald – Sep 8th • Jewel – Oct 20th

  18. Leaf spots - Jewel

  19. Defoliation - Jewel

  20. Stem blight • Jewel was not affected • No differences among treatments in Emerald

  21. Berry quality • Average weight - Jewel • Reduction in the 60%+tip • 2g  1.5g • Others averaged 1.7g • pH, acid and sugar content, anthocyanins, firmness • No differences

  22. Yield - Emerald

  23. Yield - Jewel

  24. Yield - Jewel

  25. Acknowledgements • Dr. Darnell and Dr. Williamson • Dr. Olmstead and Dr. Harmon Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

  26. Thank you!

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