TITLE Identifying the Limiting Factor for Effective Pollination Period and Fruit Set of Rabbiteye Blueberries INVESTIGATORS

Establish whether stigmatic receptivity or pollen tube growth rate is the most limiting factor for effective pollination period and consequently fruit set of rabbiteye blueberries. JUSTIFICATION Rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei Reade) are extensively grown in the Southeast because they are one of the best adapted blueberry species to the growing conditions of the region. However, their low degree of self-fertility forces growers to adopt practices to aid pollination and improve fruit set (NeSmith, 2002). Effective pollination period (EPP) is the number of days during which pollination is effective enough to produce a fruit. Research has shown that short periods of flower receptivity are linked to low fruit set problems in crops such as apple, cherry, kiwi, pear, and plum (Sanzol and Herrero, 2001). During 2003, in a research project funded by the SRSFC, the authors assessed the EPP of rabbiteye blueberry in order to establish whether or not short periods of flower receptivity could also contribute to the low fruit set problems of this berry crop. Results from 2003 showed: 1) that pollination of rabbiteye blueberry flowers can result in some degree of fruit set for a period of 8 days after anthesis, and 2) tha