Abstract: Northern Highbush Blueberry has a long history of breeding and industrial development, with high economic value, and is currently the most widely cultivated species group in the world, the research and development of new cultivars of Northern Highbush Blueberry is of great significance to the development of China's blueberry industry. Pearl blue is a new cultivar of Northern Highbush Blueberry which was selected from natural hybrid seedlings of Blue gold. 196 seeds were obtained in June 2010, which were planted in 2011, and the fruit ripened in late June 2015. After selecting, the superior offspring were designated as SMN463. The excellent characteristics of SMN463 were impressive, such as vigorous plant growth, small and dry picking scar, good firmness, pleasant fragrance and good flavor, high sweetness and low acidity. From June 2018 to June 2019, successive testing and evaluation of tree characteristics, flowering and fruiting characteristics, fruit quality and yield traits of the superior lines and asexual progeny showed that SMN463 had consistency in all types of traits, and the specific traits were stable. In April 2024, SMN463 was certificated by the Plant Cultivar Rights Certificate of the National Forestry and Prairie Bureau, and formally named Pearl blue. This cultivar has upright form, strong vigor, elliptical leaves, an average leaf area of 13.27 cm², leaf shape index of 1.79, green in color, and entire margins. The average length of new fruiting branches is 7.33 cm, with an average of 8 berries per branch. The fruit clusters are medium density, the fruit wax is medium thickness and uniform texture, medium blue（102-D）. The medium blue fruits were hard, with the largest fruitweighing up to 2.48 g, and the average single fruit weighing up to 2.32 g, with an average size of 1.43 cm × 1.77 cm. The fruits tastes very good, with a high level of sweetness, a low level of acidity, and soluble solids content Brix% is 17.2. Pearl Blue is very early maturing, because of the fruits begins ripening in late June. The cultivar is highly adaptable and resistant to cold. The selected land must be plowed and leveled, with a plowing depth of 20~30 cm and a spacing of 1.5 m × 2.0 m. The 2 or 3-year-old seedlings are suitable for planting, with a height of over 40 cm and a base diameter of the main stem greater than 0.4 cm. Pruning is conducted in both summer and winter. The summer pruning is carried out after fruit picking, with short cutting associate with thinning, while the winter pruning can promote flower buds. In open-field cultivation in different regions, different measures are taken to protect against cold due to varying climates. The pests can be controlled mechanically or by using biological pesticides. Besides, the weed management is very important to blueberry cultivation.
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