Lowbush Blueberry-Bunchberry Competition

Abstract

The competitive effects of bunchberry Cornus canadensis L. on native stands of blueberries Vaccinium angustifolium Ait. was assessed in 1986 and 1987, and in the greenhouse in 1987 with replacement series experiments. In the field, blueberry and bunchberry fruit were harvested in August and all aboveground growth was cut, the species were separated, and dry weight was determined. The relative yield total (RYT), defined as the dry weight (DW) of the combined aboveground portions of the blueberry and bunchberry divided by their respective DW at 100% cover, was >1 and showed an increase with increasing proportion of bunchberry. Blueberry relative yield, defined as the DW of the aboveground portion divided by the DW at 100% cover, was >1, but bunchberry relative yield DW was ≤1. Regression of individual on associate DW yield indicates blueberry is as aggressive as bunchberry. Blueberry fruit count and yield decreased with increasing bunchberry density. In the greenhouse study, plant count and cover were assessed weekly, and leaf area index (LAD and DW were obtained at the end of the study. RTY > 1, and combined DW increased with increasing proportion of bunchberry. The LAI of blueberry or bunchberry was higher in mixtures than in pure stands. Blueberries are competitive with bunchberry, but in native fields, open areas among clones allow faster growing bunchberry to spread without competition.