Ericoid Mycorrhizal fungi have been shown to form symbiotic associations with Erious plants and increase nutrients uptake by the plant. The objective of this study was to assess the potential of two ericoid mycorrhizal isolates Oidiodendron maius and Pezizella ericae as potential sources of inoculant for rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei) and to assess the variation in consistency and degree of ericoid mycorrhizal fungi colonization within rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei). Field trials were conducted in 2012 in Verona, MS at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center. In this study data was collected on fruit yield, leaf tissue nutrient concentration, leaf tissue nitrogen concentration, and percent colonization of root tissue. Ericoid mycorrhizal fungal isolates Oidiodendron maius and Pezizella ericae showed no influence on rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei) during this study.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:25:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Nara_Cristina_Ristow.pdf: 1070166 bytes, checksum: b4c300a1528b3846038c18df172a3e8b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-07-10 / Blueberry is a temperate fruit species climate, cultivated in Europe, in the United State and Canada, where it has a great economic importance. Its cultivation has driven to a significant expansion in the last years, due to the fruit nutritional characteristics. Blueberries are rich in vitamins and minerals, low calorie and have high antioxidant concentration, establishing a demanding market in healthy foods. The supply of uniform plants with high quality and the development of an efficient and competitive production system added to marketing strategies are among the technologies to be adapted. The objectives of this work were: (i) to determine a suitable substrate to vegetative propagation by microcutting technique and blueberry plant growth; (ii) validate the technique of microcutting; (iii) to evaluate rooting and surviving capacity of blueberry microcuttings. Different experiments were done to achieve the objectives. It was evaluated growth of in vitro-originated plant of cultivar Georgiagem in different substrates. The microcuttings were kept under moist micro-environment conditions at both regulated temperature and light. It was evaluated the blueberry microcutting technique to the cultivars Georgiagem, O‟Neal and Misty under moist micro-environment method, two microcuttings collection period and two IBA concentrations. Was evaluated plant surviving of the cultivars Georgiagem and O‟Neal. Also, it was verified rooting potential of blueberry microcutting treated with different concentrations of indolbutiric acid (IBA) in powder formulation. It was concluded that the substrates such as pinus needle + soil and plantmax®, followed by plantmax® + perlite and rice rull + soil promoted better blueberry plant development of the cv. Georgiagem. The substrates sphagnum peat moss and the mixes of peat + perlite, peat + perlite + coconut fiber and peat + perlite + sawdust allowed higher rooting percentage. The results referent to microcutting rooting, showing high levels of rooting for the cultivars Misty, O'Neal and Georgiagem. The plant surviving of blueberry cultivars O‟Neal and Georgiagem propagated by microcutting method was superior to 90%. The application of 4000 mg/kg of IBA promoted the best rooting rates and root volume of blueberry microcuttings cultivar Climax, showing rooting percentage of 91,67. / O mirtileiro é uma espécie frutífera de clima temperado, cultivada na Europa, nos Estados Unidos e Canadá, onde tem grande importância econômica. Seu cultivo tem apresentado grande expansão nos últimos anos, devido às características nutricionais do fruto, que é rico em vitaminas e minerais, possui baixas calorias e uma alta concentração de antioxidantes, determinando a demanda do mercado exigente em alimentos saudáveis. A oferta de mudas uniformes e de qualidade e desenvolvimento de sistema de produção eficiente e competitivo, aliado a estratégias de marketing , estão dentre as medidas a serem adotadas para o aumento da área cultivada. Assim, os objetivos deste trabalho foram: (i) definir um substrato adequado para a propagação vegetativa através da técnica de microestaquia e para o crescimento de mudas de mirtileiro; (ii) validar a técnica de microestaquia; (iii) avaliar a capacidade de enraizamento e sobrevivência de microestacas de mirtileiro. Para atingir os objetivos, foram realizados diferentes trabalhos. Avaliou-se o crescimento de mudas de mirtileiro, cultivar Georgiagem, oriundas de multiplicação in vitro em diferentes substratos. Da mesma forma, foram avaliados diferentes substratos para a técnica de microestaquia mantidas em condições de micro-ambiente úmido com temperatura e luz controlada. Foi avaliada a técnica de microestaquia para cultivares de mirtileiro do grupo southern highbush em dois períodos de coletas, sob micro-ambiente úmido, e a sobrevivência de mudas, obtidas através desta técnica. Foi verificado o efeito do AIB no enraizamento de microestacas de mirtileiro grupo rabbiteye da cultivar Clímax. Nas condições em que foram realizados os trabalhos, conclui-se que: Os substratos acícula de pinus + solo e plantmax®, seguido pelos substratos plantmax® + perlita e casca de arroz + solo, promoveram maior desenvolvimento das mudas de mirtilo, cultivar Georgiagem. Os substratos testados turfa de musgo sphagnum e as misturas turfa + perlita, turfa + perlita + fibra de coco, turfa + perlita + serragem, permitiram a obtenção de um maior percentual de enraizamento. Os resultados referentes ao enraizamento de microestacas, mostraram-se eficiente, apresentando elevados índices de enraizamento para as cultivares Misty, O‟Neal e Georgiagem. A sobrevivência das mudas de mirtileiro cultivares O‟Neal e Georgiagem, propagadas pelo método de microestaquia foram superiores a 90%. A aplicação de 4.000 mg kg-1 de AIB proporcionou os melhores índices de enraizamento e crescimento radicular de microestacas de mirtileiro cultivar Climax, com percentuais de enraizamento de 91,67%.

Seediness and other differences between rabbiteye-RB (Vaccinium ashei), southern highbush-SHB (Vaccinium darrowii), and commercial market equivalent, highbush-HB (Vaccinium corymbosum) varieties/lines were determined. Forty six selections of rabbiteye and southern highbush blueberries, and three highbush varieties, were analyzed for seediness (seeds per berry volume, SPV). There were no differences (p > 0.05) in SPV between SHB and RB selections, but differences (p < 0.05) existed within species. Berries were assigned to 8 groups based on SPV to conduct sensory panels and chemical analysis. Consumers perceived RB more different than SHB from HB blueberries. In the descriptive panel, differences (p < 0.05) were found in shriveling, skin intactness, grittiness, seediness, and tartness. The soluble solids to acid ratio of HB, SHB, and RB averaged 16.05, 9.60, and 11.05%, respectively. Some consumers and trained panelists can discern differences due to seediness and other traits between blueberry species.

Frozen, thawed and osmotically-dehydrated highbush (HB) (Vaccinium corymbosum) and rabbiteye (RB) (V. virgatum) blueberries were analyzed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to observe microstructural differences in their skin. Rabbiteye blueberries of both frozen, thawed and osmotically-dehydrated treatments, had thicker skins than highbush blueberries. Rabbiteye blueberries, collected from local farms, packed and blast frozen (PBF), had thinner skins than individually quick-frozen (IQF) blueberries. Washing berries prior to freezing had no effect on skin thickness. Sensory analysis of samples determined there were no differences (p > 0.05) between PBF and IQF methods and species with respect to skin intactness, grittiness, sweetness, and blueberry flavor. IQF berries obtained from one farm had tougher skin (p ≤ 0.05) than other berries regardless of treatment. RB were rated lower in juiciness and higher in grittiness than HB berries whereas LH berries were rated lower in shriveling and higher in skin intactness.