The Blueberry News – July 2019

20 | The Blueberry News FloridaBlueberryGrowers.org

research

UF/IFAS Blueberry Breeding Program Update

FLORIDA PRODUCERS CONTINUE to face major challenges as global

production during the historical “Florida window” puts downward pressure on

prices. As a land grant university, the University of Florida’s mission is to help

Florida growers, nurseries, marketers, retailers, and ultimately Florida consumers.

This is accomplished through different departments within

the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), and

within many different research and extension programs.

Among them, the UF/IFAS blueberry breeding program

has always supported Florida producers by developing new

cultivars that can provide an advantage to producers. Yield,

timing of production, disease/pest resistance, fruit size, a

drier and smaller scar, and better flavor are some of the traits

we continue to improve through the breeding program.

The following are summaries of projects that are currently

GROWING

Florida’s

BLUEBERRY

INDUSTRY

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