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Blueberries are considered super-food because of their richness in antioxidants and vitamin C, essential for strengthening the immune system and protecting the brain. Breeders strive to improve the blueberries' fruit quality treats, so these fruits will have flavors and unique tastes, considerable size, and intense colors, which makes them even more appreciated by consumers. The firmness of fruits, their juiciness, taste, aroma, size, and color are all indicators used to appreciate the 30 blueberry varieties used in this study. Eight Romanian varieties and 22 foreign varieties were analyzed in a testing session in August 2023 with 51 accessors. The highest ranking is attributed to the 'Brigitta' variety. The 'Pink Lemonade' variety scored the best results for flavor, taste, firmness, and juiciness. The Romanian variety 'Delicia' was in the top 3 for 3 indicators. The results of the present study could be used by breeders to select promising varieties as genitors in blueberry breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-bush blueberry is an important economic and nutraceutical species, due to its high content of anthocyanins and high antioxidant activity. Nowadays, climate changes are affecting plant growth and development, leading to changes in plants' adaptation to new environmental conditions. Consequently, the need to create new varieties and hybrids to cope with changes and meet the growing demands of consumers is imperative. One way to hasten plant breeding is to employ molecular methods, such as ISSR. In the present study, five ISSR molecular markers were used to study the genetic relationships between seven Romanian blueberry cultivars and one hybrid. The dendrogram obtained following ISSR analysis revealed the presence of two clusters, one cluster containing 'Lax', 'Prod', 'Vital', 'Azur', and the second one 'Simultan', 'Delicia', 'Compact', and the hybrid obtained through free pollination of variety 'Compact'. The shortest genetic distance was noted between the hybrid genotype and the 'Compact' cultivar. The longest genetic distance was noted between the varieties 'Compact' and 'Prod'. The study also revealed common markers for the hybrid studied and its maternal genitor, that could be used as markers in blueberry breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the light of current trends for enlarging the growing possibilities of blueberry plants, we were focusing in the present work on the innovative systems designed for higher productions and in the same time organically managed to accomplish the sustainable goals. Three northern highbush blueberry varieties were subject of the trial set up in early 2019: 'Early blue', 'Duke' and 'Hannah's choice'. The two years old planting material was moved under the plastic solar in containers of 65 liters with different substrate composition. A fertilization scheme using only organic commercial products was applied and the reaction of the plants was evaluated. 'Hannah's choice' was the most vigorous variety according to the total annual growths per plant. Several organic products to control pests were tested too, and the most efficient one to aphids was Chrisopa. In order to define a tailored organic technology for such a crop system, the results need further validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among many blueberry growers and general consumers perception, often are cross-cutting issues. The quality of the fruits depends on many factors such as variety, area were fruits are produced (environmental conditions), ripening and harvest time, producing technology etc. Of course many other influencing factors could intervene during the picking time till consumption of fruits and affects the fruit appearance, firmness, colour or other internal or external parameters. Besides all these reasons, the final consumer has particular demands and preferences which stays at the base of their choices. In 2017, a tasting session with 26 blueberry varieties cultivated in Romania were evaluated by different categories of consumers. Cultivar tested were: 'Coville', 'Chandler', 'Azur', 'Darrow', 'Blueray', 'Legacy', 'Simultan', 'Brigitta', 'Augusta', 'Spartan', 'Vital', 'Pemberton', 'Delicia', 'Reka', 'Toro', 'Berkeley', 'Denise blue', 'Duke', 'Safi'r, 'Lax', 'Hannah's choice', 'Bluecrop', 'Patriot', 'Nelson', 'Bluetta', 'Pink lemonade'. All these varieties were evaluated against fruit size, skin colour, firmness, juiciness, taste and flavor. 'Coville' and 'Chandler' performed better as general total score. 'Chandler' and the Romanian variety 'Augusta' remarked by large fruits and were appreciated accordingly. 'Coville' and 'Blueray' showed good appearance of the skin colour since the most firm fruits were noticed at 'Legacy'. Most tasty and aromatic fruits were scored for 'Coville'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]