Yields of Native Clones of Lowbush Blueberry Under Cultivation

Abstract

The production of fruit of the low bush blueberry ( Vaccinium angustifoliumAit.) in Maine and in the Atlantic Provinces of Canada is based on native plants growing in their original location. These plants are encouraged to yield greater crops of fruit through burn-pruning and weed control. Attempts have been made in Minnesota (4), West Virginia (5) and in Maine (8) to breed elite lowbush blueberry cultivars. In Minnesota and West Virginia, interest seems to have been lost, while in Maine, the emphasis seems to have been turned, at least in part, to breeding more winter-hardy highbush types (7).