BLUEBERRY RESEARCH IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF CHINA

Blueberries are now the hot point of fruit development in China. Researches conducted in the past since 1980s include mainly introduction and propagation. More than 30 cultivars of rabbiteye blueberries and southern highbush blueberries were introduced successfully in the Nanjing Botanical garden in late 1980s. For dormant cuttings of 4 rabbiteye blueberry cultivars Gardenblue, Tifblue, Climax, and Premier the rooting percentage could reach 84%, 52%, 62%, and 79% respectively under interrupted misting. Lignification of the cuttings seemed the key point for rooting. For soft cuttings the rooting percentage can reach 90% to 95% with chemical treatments. Seedling selection has been conducted and some promising individuals are under observation. So far, there were little experiments on cultural practice under taken. But looking at the difference of soils between the blueberry growing areas in the US and China it seems that there are a series of aspects should be researched in the future.