Introduction and utilization of blueberry in Nanjing, China

Introduction of blueberry was initiated since 1986, by the Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a total of 78 accessions were introduced till now, including 21 rabbit-eye blueberries, 32 southern high-bush blueberries and 25 northern high-bush blueberries. Six rabbit-eye blueberry cultivars: ‘Brightwell’, ‘Prolific’, ‘Gardenblue’, ‘Baldwin’, ‘Powderblue’ and ‘Climax’, nine southern high-bush cultivars: ‘Sharpblue’, ‘Misty’, ‘Star’, ‘Bluegold’, ‘Sunshine’, ‘Anna’, ‘Zhaixuan 7’, ‘Zhaiuxuan 8’ and ‘Zhaixuan 9’, and two northern high-bush cultivars: ‘Legacy’ and ‘Chandler’, have been selected for their excellent performance of planting in Nanjing, China. Based on investigations and evaluation of the adaptability, ripening period, fruit size, fruit quality and fruit yield, the rabbit-eye blueberry cultivar ‘Brightwell’, selected in the previous years, have been well popularized in many places in southern China, with an area of more than 10,000 ha.