GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF THE LOWBUSH BLUEBERRY, Vaccinium angustifolium

Abstract

The mean berry weight from four progeny crosses of select clones of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) was significantly greater than that of three progenies from open-pollinated female parents, identified as select clones. Mean yields from both of these sources were significantly greater than from the three progenies from wild stands. The mean yield from both types of progenies involving select clones was also significantly greater than that from wild stands; however, the mean from the progenies with two select clones as parents was greater only at P < 0.05 than that of those progenies having only one known parent as a select clone.Key words: Breeding, lowbush blueberry