US: New early blueberry varieties available for Southern production

Grower and consumer alike stand to benefit from two new southern highbush blueberries developed by the USDA research centre in Poplarville, Miss. The varieties have been named as Gupton and Pearl.

In addition to high yields and vigorous growth the two new varieties will give southern growers access to the lucrative early ripening market, commencing April and May.

Stephen Stringer, a geneticist with USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS), says there's been limited acreage of southern highbush blueberries because their lack of vigor has made them difficult to grow. Gupton and Pearl are different because they were derived from crosses made among southern highbush germplasm with improved adaptation to the southeastern United States.

Stringer collaborated on the cultivars' development, testing and release with ARS horticulturists Donna Marshall and James Spiers (retired) and ARS small-fruits breeder Arlen Draper (retired).

In trials the fruit from the two new cultivars was ready around 21 days before the earliest of varieties currently grown in the area.

Source: ars.usda.gov

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