Abstract: China is the country with the largest area of blueberry cultivation, and the selection and breeding of excellent varieties is very important for the development of blueberry industry. Blue whale represents a novel northern highbush blueberry variety that was selectively bred through hybridization between Lianda Zhichun, a freshly cultivated blueberry variety independently by the team, and Blue Gold, a blueberry variety disclosed in New Jersey, USA. The collected seeds were sown in the company's blueberry nursery in the spring of 2011 and 260 seedlings were produced in the spring of 2012 in Dalian Pushilan Agricultural Technology Co., LTD. The researchers continuously observed and recorded the fruit economic traits, plant growth, fruiting habits and phenological period of the hybrid offspring. The fruit matured in late June 2015, meanwhile, one excellent strain with outstanding comprehensive traits was selected and the team numbered this superior strain SMN-437. After a comprehensive appraisal of both appearance and taste, the cultivar was found to have many outstandingly good traits. for example, The variety tasted sweet and sour, the flesh color was light green and delicate, the skin was thick and juicy, the flavor was excellent and it was suitable for fresh market. This variety had medium fruit grains, oblate shape, light blue color, high density of ear, thick and uniform fruit powder. the average fruit weight was 2.01 g and the largest fruit was 2.51 g, meanwhile, the soluble soids content were 11.4. Between July 2017 and July 2018, the team's breeding researchers completed a comprehensive evaluation of superior lines and asexually propagated progeny. During the evaluation, key biological traits such as plant morphological characteristics, fruit quality characteristics, fruit yield and flowering and fruiting traits showed a high degree of consistency and stability, providing a solid scientific basis for the selection and breeding of new varieties. On 21 December 2020, it received the new variety certificate No. 20200272 issued by the State Forestry and Grassland Administration. This cultivar belongs to the Northern Highbush Blueberry, the bush gesture is open and vigor is medium. The leaves are long elliptic and dark green in color, and the edge of the leaves is serrated, with an average leaf area of 12 cm2, leaf shape index of 2.0 and early germination of leaf bud, the edges of the leaves are serrated, the tips are flat without curling, and the back of theleaves is smooth. This variety is suitable for planting in the area north of the Yangtze River or high altitude areas, loose, deep, wet but not stagnant and rich soil with high organic matter content. Blueberries need to experience certain low temperatures during the normal flowering and fruiting process, Normal flowering and fruiting of blueberries requires a certain period of low temperature conditions. Only by meeting the low temperature requirements of different varieties can blueberries flower and fruit and branch development normally. It has been found that the planting area of the new blueberry variety Blue Whale should have a low temperature requirement of 600 h-1200 h. With regard to the management of soil, fertilizer and water, The best way to water the garden beds is to use drip irrigation, and to ensure that the soil moisture content is within a certain range, and that drainage and flood prevention work is done during the rainy season. Requires covering the entire orchard floor with leaves, straw, or straw curtains and the thickness of the mulch is more than 10 cm. This will provide moisture retention, increase soil organic matter content and improve the physical and chemical properties of the soil.
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