Blueberry Mohammad Ayoub 11315774

Scientific classification Plantae Kingdom  Magnoliopsida  Class Ericales Order  Ericaceae Family   Vaccinium  Genus Cyanococcus Section: Binomial name Vaccinium Cyanococcus  

Description Perennial woody crop Deciduous fruit tree Botanically Dicot plant

Leaves Leaf are ovate to oblong Leaf arrangement: alternate Leaf type and persistence: deciduous or ever green

Flower Flower shape: are bell-shaped Flower Color: White , pink flowers  

Pollination  bees are the only insects that can pollinate , due to the flowers need for "buzz pollination" . Most northern highbush are self-fruitful . higher fruit set and larger fruit can be produced through cross pollination .

fruit the fruit is an false . All species require a high degree of fruit set for a full crop (60-80%) – no thinning is practiced.

Types Three commercially important blueberry species are recognized :  Northern Highbush   Rabbiteye blueberry  Lowbush blueberry 

 Northern Highbush 

 Rabbiteye blueberry 

Lowbush blueberry 

Soils and Climate are preferred acid soils (pH 4.5-5.2) with high organic matter (20-50%) unlike most fruit crops chilling hours : Highbush 800 – 1100 hr Rabbiteye 350 – 800 hr Southern Highbush 200 – 700 hr Lowbush 1000 hr

Propagation  Hardwood and softwood cuttings are the most popular methods.

Hardwood softwood

Maturity Blue color is the most often used indicator of maturity. Berries turn from green to pink, and then gradually to a complete blue color

Harvest Berries are picked over several times by hand for fresh sales, and mostly machine harvested for processing. Since berries ripen over a period of weeks, more than one pass with the harvester may be necessary. Lowbush blueberries are harvested by hand rakes, although some mechanical harvesters have been developed.

Postharvest Handling, Storage Blueberries are fairly perishable, having shelf life of only 2 weeks when stored at 32 F and 90-95% humidity. Fruit rots like Botrytis.

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