Methods of vegetative propagation of highbush blueberry

Abstract

Seedlings of highbush blueberries are in demand as planting material. Blueberry is considered to be a hard-rooted berry crop. To improve root formation and further growing of rooted cuttings, a number of methods have been developed with the use of various preparations.

The review article presents basic information about present-day vegetative propagation methods of highbush blueberry: reproduction by layering, semi-hardwood and hardwood cuttings and microclonal propagation.

For commercial cultivation of highbush blueberry the propagation with hardwood and softwood cuttings should be used as it ensures the production of genetically homogeneous seedlings that retain variety identification and do not differ from maternal plants in terms of their economically valuable traits. The propagation of highbush blueberries with layers as an industrial method is not feasible from an economic point of view; this method is used by amateur gardeners. In the specialized nurseries of the Republic of Belarus microclonal propagation is considered to be the primary way of obtaining planting material of highbush blueberry.