Three New Mississippi Blueberries

After more than two decades of research, scientists at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) have successfully bred three new varieties of blueberries designed to withstand the heat of the South while maintaining high-quality taste and a plump consistency.

Locally grown blueberries were nonexistent in Mississippi just 30 years ago due to the state’s heat, humidity, abundant insect population, and occasional late-spring freezes. Today, however, the breeding program at the ARS Southern Horticultural Laboratory in Poplarville, MS, has produced Gupton, DeSoto, and Dixieblue. All three varieties were already released to nurseries, and will be available for sale in about a year-and-a-half. Each variety offers its own unique benefits to blueberry growers in the South.

Gupton, which is a fresh-market variety, begins ripening up to three weeks ahead of the earliest ripening rabbiteye blueberries, which allows growers to capitalize on higher prices for the fresh market. Its strengths include vigor, productivity, and fruit quality.

Like Gupton, Dixieblue works well for the fresh market, also ripening several weeks prior to rabbiteye blueberries. It is strong in productivity and overall quality, and produces attractive light-blue berries with a relatively flat shape. Growers should note, however, that flat berries are not suited for conveyors on packinglines. In addition, softwood cuttings may prove to be a little more difficult to propagate than other cultivars.

DeSoto is a sure cropper, as its late blooming season eliminates the risk of frost damage. Its semi-dwarf growth habit reduces management inputs, it is very productive with excellent fruit quality, and it provides fresh blueberries several weeks later than current rabbiteye cultivars. There is a downside to DeSoto’s late-season ripening characteristics, however, as many Gulf Coast blueberry growers are accustomed to completing their harvest and closing their packingsheds by late June or early July. Also, growers should be aware that DeSoto should not be grown in low areas where standing water may contribute to disease problems such as phytophthora root rot.

Dr. Arlen Draper, Dr. C.L. Gupton, and Dr. Stephen Stringer were the plant breeders who played an integral role in the development of the varieties for the study. Horticulturist Dr. James Spiers headed up the study as the research leader.