Sugar-levels in Fruits of the Lowbush Blueberry estimated at Four Physiological Ages

Abstract

THE native blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium Ait., is a heterogeneous species which constitutes the bulk of the commercial crop harvested in eastern Canada. Clones within the species vary in many ways—disparate stem, colour¹, a varying response to day-length² and in certain morphological features³. The investigation reported here was undertaken to determine whether there would be a notable deviation in sugar content among clones, both with regard to sugars present and concentration. Five clones were selected for the initial investigation with the expectation of extending the sampling should the original data warrant this. The sampling was made July 25, 1962, when individual clones showed fruits covering a wide range of physiological maturity although their chronological ages were similar.