Variation of Fruit Traits in Highbush Blueberry Seedlings from a Factorial Cross

摘要

A 3x4 factorial crossing trial was constructed for the study of variation of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) fruit quality traits such as fruit weight (FW), colour (C) pedicel scar size (PSS), and total phenolic content (TPH). Blueberry plants (parents and offspring) were established at the Wilhelm Dierking Beerenobst LLC farm in Gilten, Germany and data were collected during summer 2009. Statistical analysis was performed using ASReml to obtain empirical breeding values (eBVs). Variations were found for all the traits studied and several seedlings exceeded their parental eBVs for the traits FW and TPH. 'Hortblue Petite' appears to be a valuable parent for its high fruit phenolic content.