July 2022 - 13

BLUEBERRY
In addition to flavor,
high yields and pest
and disease resistance,
the University of Florida
is breeding blueberry
varieties that can be
machine harvested,
which can save
growers up to 70% on
harvesting expenses,
according to UF.
Photos: University of
Florida
FLORIDA BREEDING PROGRAM
RELEASING NEW BLUEBERRY VARIETIES
Early successes helped establish blueberries in other states
By Doug Ohlemeier
Assistant Editor
The University of Florida's Institute
of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/
IFAS) blueberry program is focusing on
fruit that expands growers' seasons on the
front end, to capitalize on a better market.
Several of the varieties are also designed
for mechanical harvesting.
Before UF's breeding program began
in the 1950s, eventually helping shape
the South's blueberry industry, the fruit
as we know it today couldn't be grown
in southern states, said Patricio Munoz,
associate professor of blueberry breeding
and genomics and a scientist in UF's
Horticultural Science department.
Those contributions sparked
commercial blueberry production
from Georgia and the Carolinas to
Mississippi, Texas, and Southern
California. A majority of Georgia's
blueberry varieties, for example, were
UF crosses, Munoz said.
This year, the university plans to
release a high-yield and flavorful variety
designed for production in Florida's
central growing region. Another variety
on tap for next year is designed to be
grown in southern Florida, to " make a
difference " for growers who don't have as
many options as their counterparts in the
rest of the state.
Targeting Florida growing
regions
Munoz's goal is to release at least five
varieties for the three production areas.
The bulk of Florida's acreage is in the
north-central, central and south-central
parts of the state, from Gainesville to Lake
Placid, east of Sarasota. Researchers are
compiling data on the varieties.
UF's blueberry breeding targets
varieties for the northern and southern
districts because some of those varieties
perform in the center as well.
" The one we're releasing this year is
especially good for the central part, "
Munoz said. " There are similarities in
some of them, but at this point, we have
favors pests and diseases, and lacking
pest-killing winter temperatures, it's
more challenging to grow berries and
preserve plant health for the next season.
" This is a great place to breed
because it's very challenging for plants
to perform, " Munoz said. " Given the
conditions we have with emerging
pathogens, we have new things coming
up all the time. Things that were not a
problem in the past are now a problem. "
Advances in technology are
University of Florida blueberry breeder
Patricio Munoz says new early season
varieties are designed to improve grower
returns.
learned more about what works where. "
The last five years in Florida have
brought half as many chilling hours as is
historically expected, and milder weather
requires changing breeding standards.
Some varieties that do well with fewer
chill hours produce too late in the season,
when market prices are lower. Breeders
keep pushing toward the front of the
season, developing varieties that also
target yield, taste, quality and disease and
pest resistance.
In 2021, UF released Sentinel, a highyielding
early maturing cultivar, which
could bring higher returns because
harvest starts before other states enter the
deal. Sentinel also shouldn't need growth
regulators to advance concentrated fruit
ripening, Munoz said.
UF released Optimus, its first blueberry
designed to be machine-harvested, in
2017, followed by Colossus in 2019. Using
machines can reduce harvesting expenses
up to 70%, Munoz said. Colossus' jumbo
size differentiates it from other varieties
and makes it a good fit for the premium
market, he said.
Pest threats
Florida's hot and humid environment
shortening variety release times. UF's
first blueberry cross was in 1950. In
1976, Sharpblue was the university's
first blueberry varietal release. So far,
UF has released 40 varieties.
In the past, varieties required 12 to
15 years from first cross to commercial
introduction. Today, in the best-case
scenario, that timeframe has been
halved to six to seven years. The
program's long-term goal is to further
reduce that to five years.
Though breeders must develop
varieties that appeal to numerous
entities, including nurseries, marketers,
retailers and consumers, Munoz calls
growers the ports or doors of entrance.
Florida's blueberry breeding program
is unique in that it remains highly
connected with growers, he said.
UF tests varieties at 10 experimental
plots throughout
the state,
providing
growers early
access to plant
materials to allow
them to review
future releases.
Annual grower
surveys keep
the program
grounded and aid
in determining
the impact the
researchers
make and the
challenges
growers face,
Munoz said. A
phone app from
the university
includes a
calendar, scouting
guide and
other information, such as a chemical
application schedule, also aids growers
throughout the season. FGN
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FGN | JULY 2022 | 13
UF keeps in touch with
blueberry growers
through surveys and
an app that includes
a calendar, scouting
guide and other
information related to
blueberry growing in
the Sunshine State.
http://www.degrandchamps.com
July 2022

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