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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » National Clonal Germplasm Repository » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #256550
Title: Berry trials in the Azores

Author
item MOTA, JOSE - Directorate Of Agriculture And Livestock
item Hummer, Kim
item WILLIAMS, ROGER - The Ohio State University

Submitted to: Acta Horticulturae
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/23/2010
Publication Date: 8/23/2010
Citation: Mota, J.A., Hummer, K.E., Williams, R. 2010. Berry trials in the Azores. Proceedings International Horticultural Congress, August 23-27, 2010, Portugal. Acta Horticulturae. 918:753-758.

Interpretive Summary: The Portuguese equivalent of the US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Direcção de Serviços de Agricultura e Pecuária, Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Açores, began a collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Clonal Germplasm Repository at Corvallis, Oregon, and The Ohio State University, Department of Entomology in 2004. While previous horticultural production in the Azores included bananas, pineapples, apples, pears, and grapes, the cultivated temperate zone berry crops have not been grown extensively. Our objective was to compare berry cultivars in the Azores. Between 2006 and 2009, plantings of highbush blueberries ‘Emerald’, ‘Jewel,’ ‘Misty’ and ‘O’Neal,’ ‘Brigitta’, ‘Duke’ and ‘Elliott,’ and ‘Spring High’, were established in Furnas and in Ponta Delgada. In 2007 and 2009, plantings of thornless blackberry Rubus hybrid ‘Triple Crown,’ and two cultivars of red raspberries, ‘Heritage’ and ‘Taylor,’ were established. In Furnas, only the ‘Emerald’ blueberry produced fruit in 2008 and 2009. The average yield in the first year was about 1/4 lb plant; in 2009 it was about a pound per plant. The other cultivars did not produce fruit and the ‘Jewel’ plants were susceptible to European leaf rust disease. The blackberry plants produced fruit in 2009. Bud break occurred very late in the season (beginning of June) and the crop season occurred from 26 August to 17 December. During the last month only a few fruit were produced. The production peak occurred on the first week of October. The ‘Heritage’ red raspberry fruit ripened on 7 August and finished 14 September. The maximum production occurred on 17 August. Trials are continuing.

Technical Abstract: The Direcção de Serviços de Agricultura e Pecuária, Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Açores, Portugal, began a collaboration with the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Clonal Germplasm Repository at Corvallis, Oregon, and The Ohio State University, Department of Entomology in 2004. While previous horticultural production in the Azores included bananas, pineapples, apples, pears, and grapes, the cultivated temperate zone berry crops have not been grown extensively. Our objective was to compare berry cultivars in the Azores. Between 2006 and 2009, plantings of southern highbush blueberries, Vaccinium corymbosum, ‘Emerald’, ‘Jewel,’ ‘Misty’ and ‘O’Neal’; of northern highbush blueberries, V. corymbosum, ‘Brigitta’, ‘Duke’ and ‘Elliott’; and a rabbiteye cultivar, V. virgatum, ‘Spring High’, were established in Furnas and in Ponta Delgada. In 2007 and 2009, plantings of thornless blackberry Rubus hybrid ‘Triple Crown,’ and two cultivars of red raspberries, Rubus idaeus ‘Heritage’ and ‘Taylor,’ were established. In Furnas, only the ‘Emerald’ blueberry produced fruit in 2008 and 2009. The average yield in the first year was 0.4 kg/plant; in 2009 it was 2.6 kg/plant. The average fruit diameter was 13.95 mm, and weight was 2.44 g. The other cultivars did not produce fruit and the ‘Jewel’ plants were susceptible to leaf rust disease caused by Naohidemyces vaccinii (Wint.) Sato, Katsuya et Hiratsuka (= Pucciniastrum vaccinii). The blackberry plants produced fruit in 2009. Bud break occurred very late in the season (beginning of June) and the crop season extended from 26 August to 17 December although during the last month only a few fruit were produced. The production peak occurred on the first week of October. The ‘Heritage’ red raspberry fruit ripened on 7 August and finished 14 September. The maximum production occurred on 17 August. The average fruit diameter was 15.93 mm, length was 17.50 mm, and weight was 2.60 g/berry. The raspberries became infested with Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval). ‘Taylor’ was more susceptible than ‘Heritage’ to this lepidopterous pest. Trials are continuing.