Modeling Chilling Influence on Cumulative Flowering: A Case Study Using `Tifblue Rabbiteye Blueberry

Abstract

A Weibull distribution function was used to develop a model for estimating cumulative flowering and the distribution of flowering of `Titblue' rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium Ashei Reade) as a function of growing degree days (GDD) following exposure to chilling temperatures for 300 to 1200 hours. Controlled chilling and flowering conditions were imposed on blueberry plants to obtain data for model development. Once developed, the model was validated using independent data sets from the literature. Given information concerning chilling and historical GDD, the model can be used to predict the onset of flowering, cumulative flowering, total number of flowers, and flower frequency at discrete intervals. The techniques developed likely will be applicable to a range of fruit species in which chilling influences flowering habit.