Trends in Lowbush Blueberry Cultivar Development

Abstract

Although lowbush blueberries ( Vaccinium angustifoliumAit.) have been commercially produced for over one hundred and forty years, the development of superior lowbush blueberry cultivars has lagged behind the development of northern and southern highbush and rabbiteye cultivars. With traits including good winter hardiness, low maintenance, low agrochemical input requirements, resistance to pests, ease of mechanical harvest, moderate to high yields and berry compositional attributes including high soluble solid and low acid levels, and more recently, high antioxidant and phytochemical contents, there has been renewed interest and efforts in breeding lowbush and interspecific hybrid cultivars. The objectives of this review are to briefly review the blueberry industry and breeding activities and examine the contributions and roles of the lowbush blueberry ( Vaccinium angustifoliumAit.) in blueberry cultivar development.