Diferentes formas de propagação e intensidades de poda no desempenho a campo de mirtileiros do grupo rabbiteye

Abstract

Blueberry cultivars of rabbiteye group Bluegem, Briteblue, and Woodard are characterized by having low chilling requirement, high vigor and productivity, being able to be produced in region of Southern Brazil. Studies on cultural practices and field performance in blueberry are recent in Brazil. In order to provide more accurated informations to the growers of this fruit crop, experiments were carried out during 2009 and 2010 in a high potential region. The first experiment was carried out in a didactic orchard at the Federal University of Pelotas (Rio Grande do Sul State), and the objective was to study the field behavior of the blueberries propagated by two different techniques. Evaluations on vegetation, production, and fruit quality aspects were done in order to determine the effect of rejuvenation obtained through micropropagation technique. One year-old plants of blueberry, cultivars Bluegem, Briteblue, and Woodard, obtained from micropropagation and semi-hardwood cuttings were used. It was found that micropropagated plants showed a high initial vegetative growth, and both productivity and fruit quality similar to plants propagated by cuttings. In the second experiment, conducted in a commercial orchard located in the same city of the first experiment, it was tested different intensities of pruning on production and fruit quality aspects. Seven years-old plants, cultivars Briteblue and Woodard were used. They were pruned during the winter rest period in different intensities (low, moderate, drastic and control), and the control (no pruning). Blueberry plants which were not pruned showed high productivity, but produced smaller fruits. The moderate pruning system showed the best results.