Al Kovaleski February, 2014 Summer pruning southern highbush
blueberries in Florida University of Florida Horticultural Sciences
Department
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Blueberry summer pruning 2 No removal of flower buds Long
growing season in FL Pruning promotes increased vigor More support
for reproductive structures
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Objectives 3 Determine the effects of timing and severity of
summer pruning: Vegetative traits: Regrowth Cane breakage Timing of
defoliation Incidence of leaf spots Incidence and severity of stem
blight Reproductive traits: Flower bud initiation Fruit set Yield
Quality of fruit
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Plant material 4 Two cultivars Emerald and Jewel Seven year old
plants Commercial cultural practices PSREU Citra, FL
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Treatments 5 No summer pruning control Prune 30% early June
Prune 30% mid-July Prune 30% early June+tip Prune 60% early
June+tip Detailed hand pruning control www.caes.uga.edu
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Treatments 6 30%60%Unpruned
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Vegetative traits 7 Canopy volume Regrowth Condition of fall
foliage Time of defoliation Leaf spot
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Vegetative traits 8 Incidence and severity of Stem Blight
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Reproductive traits 9 Re-growth shoots collected to assess
timing of flower bud initiation Late summer until defoliation
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Reproductive traits 10 Harvest Period Yield Fruit quality Total
soluble solids Titratable acidity Firmness Average berry weight
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R ESULTS TO DATE 11
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Regrowth volume - Jewel 12
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Cane breakage - Freezes 13
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Leaf spots - Jewel 14
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Environmental Conditions 15 2011201220132014
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Leaf spots - Jewel 16
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Defoliation - Jewel 17 No significant defoliation in Emerald
until December
Flower bud initiation 21 Important: Develop management
strategies to enhance flowering Regulate fruit load Yield! First
sign of transition detectable
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Stem blight 22 Jewel was not affected No differences among
treatments in Emerald 25% incidence
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Berry quality 23 Average weight - Jewel Reduction in the
60%+tip 1.9g 1.4g Others averaged 1.7g pH, acid and sugar content,
anthocyanins, firmness No differences
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24 Yield - Emerald
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Yield - Jewel 25
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Yield - Jewel 26
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Acknowledgements 27 Dr. Darnell and Dr. Williamson Dr. Olmstead
and Dr. Harmon