THE ORIGIN OF ROMANIAN BLUEBERRY CULTIVARS.

Vaccinium corymbosum (L.) is a plant native to North America and belongs to the genus Vaccinium L., the Ericales order, family Ericaceae, Subfamily Vaccinioideae. Blueberries are classified under the family Ericaceae, subfamily Vacciniaceae, genus Vaccinium, and subgenus Cyanococcus. They are most commonly found growing in acidic and infertile soil conditions. Highbush blueberries have a higher total sugar content compared to other berries of the Vaccinium genus. The first blueberry crop in Romania was established in Bilcesti, Arges. Since 1980, blueberry breeding has been carried out at the Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti - Maracineni, Romania, using different origins and parent plants. Controlled hybridization is used in the breeding process, where the parents or genitors are chosen based on the desired blueberry breeding objectives. The aim of this study is to expand the knowledge base on the pedigree and biometrical traits of Romanian blueberry cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]