The blueberry (Vaccinium L.) fruit is known for its light-blue appearance, attributed to its blue-black skin covered with a white waxy layer. This layer is crucial for the growth and storage of blueberry fruits. This study established an F1 mapping population of 166 plants derived from ‘Chandler’ (wax-rich) and ‘Black Pearl’ (wax-poor). Bulk segregated analysis sequencing was used to identify the candidate region associated with cuticular wax, which was finally narrowed to a 1.85 Mb segment on chromosome 11, including ten candidate genes. Further transcriptome analyses and qRT-PCR revealed that the relative expression levels of five candidate genes (VcMYB36, VcDXS, VcCAMS1, VcCER2, and VcKCS19) were different between ‘Chandler’ and ‘Black Pearl’. Combined with gene function annotation, we hypothesized that VcKCS19 and VcCER2 are key candidate genes for wax synthesis in blueberry, potentially accounting for the variations in wax content between ‘Chandler’ and ‘Black Pearl’. Transient overexpression and virus-induced gene silencing in blueberry fruit revealed that VcCER2 and VcKCS19 positively regulate wax accumulation in blueberry fruits. This study provided key insights into the molecular basis of wax synthesis in blueberry fruits, which provides new avenues for enhancing wax quality in genetic breeding programs.

Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) are one of the most economically important fruit trees globally. However, due to continuous cropping have limited the industry’s ability to produce consistently over the long term, and the mechanism underlying the development of this continuous cropping problem is not yet fully understood. In this study, we applied metagenomic and metabolomic to systematically detect changes in microbial community structure, function and metabolic profiles in rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere soils after different years of continuous blueberry cultivation (0, 2, 4, and 6 years) in Dalian (China). The results showed that continuous cultivation significantly reduced overall microbial diversity and the bacterial and fungal Shannon index, with the decrease being more significant in the rhizosphere soils (P < 0.05). The β diversity analysis showed that the microbial community structure was distinctly separated between cultivation periods, with the most prominent differences in the rhizosphere soils (PERMANOVA, P < 0.01). The increased cultivation duration led to a decrease in the relative abundance of beneficial functional taxa in the microbial community, while the depletion-tolerant and stress-adapted taxa were gradually enriched. Functional annotation analysis showed that KEGG pathways related to stress response, amino acid degradation, and energy metabolism significantly increased, while functions related to nutrient transformation and plant-microbe interactions were weakened (FDR < 0.05). The metabolomic results further showed that 6 years of continuous cultivation significantly reshaped the rhizosphere metabolite composition. This was evidenced by the accumulation of various secondary metabolites in the rhizosphere soil, including metabolites related to potential self-toxicity (e.g., ferulic acid, 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, and 2-hydroxycinnamic acid), mainly involved in the pathways of amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and secondary metabolite synthesis. In conclusion, continuous cultivation of blueberry induced pronounced shifts in rhizosphere microbial community structure, function, and metabolite composition, suggesting that these changes may contribute to the development of continuous cropping obstacles (CCO).

Fruit aroma is a key determinant of consumer preference and commercial value in blueberries. To systematically characterize the diversity of blueberry aromas, we performed a large-scale volatilome analysis of 147 cultivars using HS-SPME-GC-MS, leading to the identification of 103 volatile organic compounds (VOCs). By integrating chemometric analyses (cluster analysis, PCA, OPLS-DA) with sensory evaluation and relative odor activity values (rOAVs), we defined five distinct aroma chemotypes: herbaceous-woody, sweet fruity, cool green, rich floral-fruity, and light fruity. Furthermore, 16 volatile compounds were identified as biomarkers capable of discriminating these chemotypes. We also selected four commercial cultivars 'L25', 'Pink Popcorn', 'Draper', 'Sweetheart', and two new cultivars 'Xia Nv' and 'Yu Meilan' as possessing superior aromatic quality by the PCA-based comprehensive evaluation model. This study establishes a volatilome-based classification framework for blueberry germplasm and provides elite parental resources for precision breeding of high-aroma cultivars.

Lingwu is a novel northern highbush blueberry cultivar derived from Patriot seedlings. In the autumn of 2011, our team collected 230 seedlings, which were subsequently planted in the spring of 2012. By the first half of July 2015, the fruits had ripened, and a superior progeny, designated as Senmao 300, was carefully selected. Upon thorough test and evaluation, this cultivar was found to bear large, oblate, light blue berries in thick and uniformly textured clusters. The fruit are characterized by sweetness, delicate texture, juiciness, and pleasant, fragrant flavor. They also exhibit medium hardness and good productivity, making them an exceptional choice for fresh consumption. From July 2017 to July 2018, a comprehensive assessment of the traits of this cultivar and its asexually propagated progeny was conducted. The results demonstrated that the cultivars overall characteristics, including plant morphology, flowering and fruiting traits, fruit yield and quality, were consistent and stable. On July 29, 2020, this cultivar was registered as Lingwu and granted a New Cultivar Right Certificate by Chinas State Forestry and Grassland Administration (SFA). This cultivar features an upright tree body with vigorous growth. The leaf blade is elongated and oval-shaped, with an average leaf area of 14.92 cm2, a leaf shape index of 1.80, and a dark green color with an entire margin. The average length of a new fruiting shoot is 11 cm, with each shoot bearing an average of 8 fruit. The fruit are oblate and densely packed on a thick and uniformly textured inflorescence that is light blue (101-A). The calyx scar is small and shriveled, and the fruit firmness is of a moderate level (2.7). The fruit have average dimensions of 1.4 cm×1.83 cm, with a maximum weight of 4.03 g and an average weight of 2.99 g per fruit. The fruit contains 9.73% soluble solids (°Brix) and has relatively high acidity levels. Fruit ripening begins in early July, making this variety particularly suitable for cultivation in regions north of the Yangtze River or high-altitude zones. For optimal growth, deep, loose soils with high fertility and good drainage are required. The soil should hold moisture without waterlogging tendencies. Preferred soil textures include loam or sandy loam with an acidic pH (4.0-5.5) and an organic matter content exceeding 3.0%. Cultivation needs 600-1200 cumulative chilling hours. Prior to planting, thorough tillage to a depth of 20-30 cm, land leveling, and soil conditioning should be carried out to meet the specified physical and chemical properties.2-or 3-year-old potted seedlings or bare-root seedlings that are at least 40 cm tall and have a main stem base diameter above 0.4 cm, are used for garden establishment. For soil and fertilizer management, soil mulching with straw, wood debris, and pine needles is applied. The thickness of the mulch should exceed 10 cm, which helps in moisturizing, increasing the soils organic matter content, and improving soils physical and chemical properties. Mulching with black sheet effectively controls weed growth. Before planting, well-fermented organic fertilizer is applied to the seedlings.

Northern Highbush Blueberry has a long history of breeding and industrial development, and is currently the most widely cultivated species group in the world. The breeding 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 selected from natural hybrid seedlings of Blue gold.196 seeds were obtained in June of 2010, and they were sowed in 2011, and the seedlings started to bear fruits in 2015. After selection, the superior individual was designated as SMN463. The excellent characteristics of the SMN463 were impressive, such as vigorous plant growth, small and dry picking scar, good firmness, pleasant fragrance and good flavor, and high sugar and low acidity. In April 2024, the SMN463 was approved by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration as Pearl blue. This cultivar had upright form, strong vigor, and elliptical leaves. The fruit clusters were medium dense, and the fruit wax is medium thick. The fruit color was medium blue, and the firmness of the fruits was hard. The largest fruit was 2.48 g, and the average single fruit weigh was 2.32 g. The fruits flavor was very good. The soluble solid content was 17.2%. The fruits of Pearl Blue began ripening in late June. The cultivar was highly resistant to cold.

Root pruning can promote the transplanting of young green plants, but the overall impact of pruning on root growth, morphology, and physiological functions remains unclear. This study integrated transcriptomics and physiological analyses to elucidate the effects of root pruning on blueberry growth. Appropriate pruning (CT4) significantly promoted plant growth, with above-ground biomass and leaf biomass significantly increasing compared to the control group within 42 days. Photosynthesis temporarily decreased at 7 days but recovered at 21 and 42 days. Transcriptomics analysis showed that the cellulose metabolism pathway was rapidly activated and influenced multiple key genes in the starch metabolism pathway. Importantly, transcription factors associated with vascular development were also significantly increased at 7, 21, and 42 days after root pruning, indicating their role in regulating vascular differentiation. Enhanced aboveground growth was positively correlated with the expression of photosynthesis-related genes, and the transport of photosynthetic products via vascular tissues provided a carbon source for root development. Thus, root development is closely related to leaf photosynthesis, and changes in gene expression associated with vascular tissue development directly influence root development, ultimately ensuring coordinated growth between aboveground and belowground parts. These findings provide a theoretical basis for optimizing root pruning strategies to enhance blueberry growth and yield.

The Sky Blue blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum L.) is a new variety bred from a crossing between the Legacy and Cara's Choice made in 2010 in the blueberry germplasm resource bank of Dalian Senmao Modern Agriculture Co., Ltd., located in Xinshi Village, Huajia Street, Jinzhou District, Dalian. The seeds were sown and 216 seedlings were obtained in 2011, Subsequently, in the spring of 2012, these seedlings were transplanted to Dalian Pushi Blue Agricultural Technology Co., Ltd., situated in Shuangsheng Village, Changling Town, Zhuanghe City, Liaoning Province. The hybrid trees started fruiting in 2015 and a superior individual was selected and recorded as 2019-045. The berries were large, large in size and flattened and round in shape, covered with a thick and uniform bloom. The color was light blue. The fruit had a small and dry calyx scar, high firmness, sweet flavor, and aromatic scent. It was highly suitable for fresh markets. Between 2018 and 2019, continuous monitoring was conducted on the fruit quality, plant growth characteristics, and flowering and fruiting traits of this elite lineage and its asexually propagated descendants. The results indicated that the various traits of this cultivar exhibited good stability and consistency. In April 25,2024, this cultivar received a new variety authorization certificate from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and was named Sky Blue, with variety certificate number 20240014. The fruit clusters had a moderate density The average individual fruit size was 1.84 cm×1.47 cm, and the maximum fruit weight was 3.69 g and an average individual fruit weight was 2.77 g. The soluble solid content (Brix%) was 15%, with moderate acidity. Under natural growth conditions, fruits typically reached maturity by early July, categorized as mid-season variety. Sky Blue was an excellent cultivar of northern highbush blueberries characterized by an open tree structure and vigorous growth. The leaves were elongated oval-shaped with a deep green color and entire margins. The average leaf area was approximately 6.8 cm2, with a leaf shape index of 2.28. The average length of new fruiting branches reached up to 14 cm, with each branch capable of producing approximately 12 fruits. The inflorescences of this cultivar were relatively short, with moderate anthocyanin coloration intensity in both flower buds and corollas. The corolla exhibited a saucer shape with distinct ribbed features. This cultivar was well suitable for northern regions of the Yangtze River or areas with high altitudes; it should be cultivated in fertile soil with good drainage properties to maintain adequate moisture without waterlogging. The ideal soil types were loam or sandy loam, with pH values 4.0 to 5.5 and organic matter content over 3.0%. Furthermore, the chilling requirement of the varity was 600 to 1200 hours.

The new blueberry variety Xiangyi is a northern highbush variety bred from the natural hybrid seedling of the blueberry variety Patriot. It has large fruit, medium ear density, flat round fruit, thick powder and uniform texture, medium blue color (102-B), medium hardness (3.0 kg·cm-2), average single fruit size of 1.38 cm × 2.02 cm, maximum fruit weight of 3.79 g, and average single fruit weight 2.75 g. The soluble solid content is 12.27%, and the acidity is moderate. The bush is upright, the vigor is medium; The leaves are oblong, the average leaf area is 7.69 cm2, the leaf shape index is 2.04, and the leaf edges are serrated. The beginning of ripening period in the natural state is around late June, belonging to the early maturing varieties. This variety has strong resistance, is suitable for planting in northern Yangtze River or high altitude areas, requiring loose, deep and fertile soil, good drainage, and wet but not waterlogged; The soil texture should be loam or sandy loam, the soil pH 4.0-5.5 is required and organic matter content above 3.0% is better. We found that the characteristics of flowering and fruit, plant growth, fruit quality and fruit yield were consistent. The fruit of this variety is sweet and sour, delicious with thick skin, good flavor, strong fragrance and good yield, being suitable for fresh food varieties, and it can also be processed into jam, fruit juice, fruit wine, fruit vinegar and so on. The land for starting an orchard must be ploughed and leveled, and the ploughing depth is about 20-30 cm. It is advisable to ridge in the direction of south to north, and on irregular hill, the land can be applied by contour planting. It is recommended that the spacing of plants and rows should be 1.5 m×2.0 m. When the soil pH value is greater than 5.5, 200 mesh-300 mesh sulfur powder should be applied to adjust it. Generally, 100 g of sulfur powder is required to reduce 1.0 pH per square meter. When the soil organic matter content is less than 5%, it should be improved by adding an appropriate amount of acidic matrix like turf soil and/or pine needles, so as to adjust it to more than 3%.2 or 3 years old Potted seedlings or bare root seedlings with plant height above 40 cm and main stem base diameter above 0.4 cm should be selected for orchard establishment. The cold resistance capacity of the planting area should reach 600-1200 h or more. The main diseases of blueberries are gray mold and canker. Blueberry pests can cause the plant to grow slowly, and the methods for control include spraying insecticides, biological agents and disinfectants. In the early stage of pest infestation, highly effective, low-toxicity and low-residue chemical pesticides should be applied for prevention and control. The new blueberry cultivar Xiangyi has excellent aromatic traits, delicious fruit flavor, high yield, and prospect for industrial application. It is also an important germplasm resource for improving the aromatic traits of existing blueberry cultivars in China.

Actinidia arguta , the most widely distributed Actinidia species and the second cultivated species in the genus, can be distinguished from the currently cultivated Actinidia chinensis on the basis of its small and smooth fruit, rapid softening, and excellent cold tolerance. Adaptive evolution of tetraploid Actinidia species and the genetic basis of their important agronomic traits are still unclear. Here, we generated a chromosome -scale genome assembly of an autotetraploid male A. arguta accession. The genome assembly was 2.77 Gb in length with a contig N50 of 9.97 Mb and was anchored onto 116 pseudo -chromosomes. Resequencing and clustering of 101 geographically representative accessions showed that they could be divided into two geographic groups, Southern and Northern, which first diverged 12.9 million years ago. A. arguta underwent two prominent expansions and one demographic bottleneck from the midPleistocene climate transition to the late Pleistocene. Population genomics studies using paleoclimate data enabled us to discern the evolution of the species' adaptation to different historical environments. Three genes ( AaCEL1 , AaPME1 , and AaDOF1 ) related to flesh softening were identified by multi-omics analysis, and their ability to accelerate flesh softening was verified through transient expression assays. A set of genes that characteristically regulate sexual dimorphism located on the sex chromosome (Chr3) or autosomal chromosomes showed biased expression during stamen or carpel development. This chromosome -level assembly of the autotetraploid A. arguta genome and the genes related to important agronomic traits will facilitate future functional genomics research and improvement of A. arguta .

Blueberries are recognized worldwide as one of the most important healthy foods due to their anthocyanins, which have special antioxidant properties. They have become a highly produced and valuable fruit crop. Most blueberry varieties are rich in anthocyanins, which impart a beautiful blue color; however, there are currently several blueberry varieties with different colors worldwide, and these special-colored varieties are the key to analyzing the coloring mechanism of blueberry fruit. Fruit color could be seen as an important nutritional quality trait in terms of marketing. In this study, a combination of transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses was performed on three representative blueberry varieties (‘Pink Popcorn’, ‘Chandler’, and ‘Black Pearl’) with pink, blue, and black fruits, respectively. The metabolomic results showed that the delphinium pigment is the dominant anthocyanin, which is the prerequisite for the formation of fruit color in blueberries. We identified 18 candidate structural genes in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway that were significantly up-regulated during three stages of fruit ripening in ‘Black Pearl’ and ‘Chandler’, but these were not found to be significantly expressed in ‘Pink Popcorn’ after combining the transcriptomic analysis results. The non-expression of the VcANS gene may lead to the pink color of the mature fruit of ‘Pink Popcorn’. The phylogenetic tree, heatmap analysis, and WGCNA analysis identified a candidate transcription factor, VcMYBA, which may regulate the differences between black and blue fruits in blueberries by regulating the expression level of multiple structural genes in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway. These results provide new insights into the mechanisms of anthocyanin accumulation and coloration in blueberries during fruit ripening and can help support production practices to improve fruit quality characteristics. The key candidate genes that regulate the fruit color differences among different blueberry varieties have the potential to enhance the antioxidant properties and quality characteristics of blueberries through future genomic editing.

Vaccinium L. is an important fruit tree with nutritional, medicinal, and ornamental values. However, the mitochondrial (mt) genome of Vaccinium L. remains largely unexplored. Vaccinium carlesii Dunn is an endemic wild resource in China, which is crucial for blueberry breeding. The V. carlesii mt genomes were sequenced using Illumina and Nanopore, which total length was 636,904 bp with 37 protein coding genes, 20 tRNA genes, and three rRNA genes. We found four pairs of long repeat fragments homologous recombination mediated the generation of substructures in the V. carlesii mt genome. We predicted 383 RNA editing sites, all converting cytosine (C) to uracil (U). According to the phylogenetic analysis, V. carlesii and V. macrocarpon of the Ericaceae exhibited the closest genetic relationship. This study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the evolution of higher plants, species classification and identification, and will also be useful for further utilization of Vaccinium germplasm resources.

采用组织表面灭菌法从蓝莓根系中分离出1株真菌,根据其形态学特征和基于ITS基因序列的系统发育分析,鉴定该菌为棘孢木霉(Trichoderma asperellum).为探讨该菌对蓝莓生长发育的影响,利用水培对蓝莓进行回接培养试验.结果表明:该菌株处理能够显著促进蓝莓幼苗的生长,其中根体积和单株生物量分别为对照的1.40倍和1.62倍;显著提高叶片中叶绿素a含量和类胡萝卜素含量,分别为对照的1.26倍和1.32倍;显著影响植株气体交换参数和呼吸速率,其中蒸腾速率和胞间CO2浓度分别为对照的1.30倍和1.16倍,气孔导度和呼吸速率分别为对照的3.08倍和1.58倍;显著提高叶片丙二醛含量和可溶性糖含量,分别为对照的1.28倍和1.30倍,而超氧化物歧化酶活性和脯氨酸含量与对照相比无显著性差异.说明该菌株处理能够改善蓝莓幼苗的生长和生理特性,促进蓝莓幼苗的生长发育.

Current breeding has resulted in the naming of Morning star, a new cultivar with distinctive characters from the northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.). This follows our previously published cultivar, Senmao 7 (Xu et al. 2021). This cultivar is intended for the early-season fresh market, and is characterized by consistent early ripening, high yield, small and dry picking scar, medium firmness, good flavor, and a medium-blue color. Cultivated highbush blueberries were first domesticated in the early 20th century (Bidani et al. 2017). Currently, the breeding of highbush blueberries has entered a phase of rapid development, with increasing popularity among consumers due to not only their delicious taste but also their exceptional health properties, including phenolics, antioxidants, vitamins, and high levels of minerals. These properties contribute to human health by suppressing certain types of cancers, preventing infections, and enhancing brain function to delay senescence. Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) have become a major fruit crop worldwide (Strik 2007). In China, the breeding and cultivation of commercial blueberries started in 2000, much later than in Western countries. Although blueberry research is relatively new, its development and commercial planting have been rapidly growing alongside economic development and changes in food consumption. By the end of 2020, the blueberry cultivation area in China reached 664 km2 with a total production of 347,200 t, of which ∼234,700 t were used for fresh consumption (Li et al. 2021); however, this production still falls short of meeting the rapidly increasing market demand. About nine countries worldwide have been exporting fresh blueberry fruits to China, and the total import volume has surged from 499 t in 2012 to 22,045 t in 2020, marking a 44-fold increase in just 8 years. Despite the continuous expansion of blueberry planting areas in China, production has declined, and poor performance has emerged as a significant challenge hindering the development of the Chinese blueberry industry (Xu et al. 2021). Therefore, there is a pressing need to breed new cultivars that are specifically adapted to the local climate and align with the current developmental stage of the blueberry industry in China.

The diversification, evolution, domestication, and breeding of many plant species have all been greatly aided by polyploidization. In this study, we reported a successful induction of autotetraploids of Vaccinium duclouxii (Le ' vl.) Hand.-Mazz, which was an important germplasm for developing highbush blueberry cultivars. The iso-lated stems of V. duclouxii were soaked in different concentrations of trifluralin solution, and then the ploidy of the seedlings sprouted from stems were identified by flow cytometry and chromosome counting analyses. The optimal condition for inducing tetraploid of V. duclouxii leaf bud was 0.002 % trifluralin for 48 h, which the induction rate reached 8.33 %. The morphological and anatomical characteristics of induced tetraploid seedlings were significantly different from those of the original diploid plants. The average stem diameter, leaf length, leaf width, and leaf thickness of the tetraploid plants showed significantly larger and thicker compared with the diploid progenitor plants. The stomata number of lower epidermis on the tetraploid seedling leaves only was 64.20 % of the diploid progenitors', while the average stomatal area was increased by 166.67 %. In addition, the length and width of guard cells were 128.57 % and 141.18 % of its diploid progenitor, separatively, and the chloroplast numbers were in guard cells increased by 157.36 %. The main leaf vein diameter, the upper epidermal thickness, palisade tissue and sponge tissue of induced tetraploid leaves were all significantly increased in comparison to its diploid progenitor, indicating that these indexes can be used for screening tetraploid seedlings during breeding program.

宝珠是北高丛蓝莓新品种,由莱格西(Legacy)自然杂交实生苗选育而成.果穗密,果实形状呈扁圆形,果实萼片类型平展,果粉中且果粉质地均匀,中等蓝色(102-C,国际通用比色卡蓝色相),果实硬度大(3.0 kg·cm-2),平均单果大小为1.55 cm(纵径)×1.74 cm(横径),最大果质量为2.48 g,平均单果质量为1.76 g.可溶性固形物含量(°Brix)为10.17％,酸度中.自然状态下的始熟期为7月上旬左右,早熟品种.该品种对灰霉病具有较强抗性,在半干旱、南方、多雨地区均可栽培.适宜高海拔区域或长江以北的地区,要求土壤深厚、肥沃、排水性好,湿润但不积水;土壤质地以壤砂土或壤土为宜.该品种果实甜,质地面且皮厚,风味好、呈淡香,丰产性中等,适宜作为鲜食品种.

2020年由美国农业部(USDA-ARS)等单位联合公布了全球41个蓝莓新品种,其中包括北高丛18个,南高丛13个,观赏类3个,未知类型7个.从公布数据可以看出,北高丛和南高丛蓝莓新品种数量相对居多,观赏类型数量最少,同时还增加了一些未知类型的蓝莓新品种.北高丛蓝莓新品种具有成熟期早、果实质地硬、果蒂痕小而干、树势旺等特性;南高丛蓝莓新品种具有果个大、需冷量低、风味口感佳等特性;观赏类蓝莓新品种具有花朵、叶片颜色多样化,树冠呈圆形且紧密的特性,可做苗圃景观和家庭盆栽等用途.从公布数据还可以看出,中国蓝莓新品种的数量增加幅度较大,占总数的24％.本文阐述了 2020年最新公布的全球蓝莓新品种数量及其特点,同时结合近几年蓝莓育种概况分析了未来全球蓝莓新品种的育种趋势,以期为我国蓝莓育种工作提供科学依据.

‘Yumeilan’ (CNPVP 20190405) is a new northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) cultivar developed by Dalian Pushilan Agriculture Technology Co., Ltd., Dalian, China. ‘Yumeilan’ is an early-to-midseason cultivar that is suitable for the processing market. The average fruit weight is 2.83 g (maximum of 3.56 g). It has the characteristics of medium fruit size, oblate shape, medium blue color, small dry picking scar, medium firmness, thick fruit wax, high sweetness, thick skin, pleasant fragrance, and good flavor. The plant is vigorous and the growth habit is semi-spreading. It can be planted commercially in the high-chilling areas of northern