Vaccinium corymbodendron (section Pyxothamnus) is a tetraploid species native to high-altitude locations in Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela, and is of considerable interest because it flowers at times when nighttime temperatures drop below freezing. It also is notable for its profuse, concentrated flowering, and monopodial plant structure both of which may be useful in breeding for mechanical harvest. Initial hybridization experiments of 4x V. corymbodendron with a range of 2x species from section Cyanococcus found all hybrids were triploids. 4x × 2x crosses in conventional Vaccinium germplasm typically result in an almost absolute block of triploid offspring. The triploids expressed very low fertility as both males and females, nonetheless, several were used successfully in crosses. A single hybrid from 4x V. corymbodendron × 2x V. vitis-idaea L. (lingonberry, section Vitis-idaea) was unexpectedly found to be tetraploid and was highly fertile. These crossing results suggest V. corymbodendron either possesses no ploidy barriers to hybridization, or possesses genomic dosage factors that differ from section Cyanococcus species. Understanding these crossing relationships may open new avenues for exploitation of this germplasm and other tertiary gene pool germplasm.

Blackberry breeding was initiated just after the turn of the twentieth century in the southern USA and involved state agricultural experiment stations in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia. The Virginia program was part of the Five Aces program headquartered in Maryland. The USDA was also involved through collaboration with the North Carolina program from the 1930s through early 1960s, and also the USDA laboratory at Poplarville, MS. Mr. B.M. Young from Louisiana also made a significant contribution in the 1920s. These eight programs released a total of 42 cultivars, of which 32 are still extant. The most significant of these cultivars in terms of industry impact and parental value are 'Brazos' from Texas and numerous `Brazos' backcrosses, especially erect thorny and thornless cultivars from the Arkansas program. Raspberry breeding in the southern USA was initiated in the late 1920s and early 1930s and involved state agricultural experiment stations in Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Virginia included both Virginia Tech and collaboration with the Five Aces program. The USDA was also involved through collaboration with the North Carolina program from the 1930s through the early 1960s. These five raspberry breeding programs released a total of 20 cultivars including 12 involving interspecific hybridization with heat tolerant Asian raspberry species, seven cultivars derived from R. idaeus intercrosses primarily evaluated for adaptation to the southern Appalachians and one black raspberry cultivar. Fifteen of these raspberry cultivars are still available. The most significant of the heat tolerant raspberry cultivars involving Asian germplasm are 'Southland' from the USDA/North Carolina program and `Dormanred' from the Mississippi program. The most significant R. idaeus cultivars from these programs that are adapted to the southern Appalachians are 'Cherokee' from Virginia Tech and 'Anne, 'Caroline' and 'Josephine' from the Five Aces program. Currently, only the University of Arkansas, North Carolina State University and USDA, Poplarville, MS, blackberry breeding programs are active, while only the North Carolina State University raspberry breeding program remains.

The primary gene pool of Vaccinium species used by breeders has traditionally been the North American Vacci- nium species in section Cyanococcus. Blueberries in commercial production represent several Vaccinium species and ploi- dies. Moreover, significant use has been made of the secondary gene pool of Vaccinium, especially in the development of southern highbush cultivars. Section Hemimyrtillus represents species that are part of the tertiary gene pool of Vaccinium. Two species of section Hemimyrtillus, native to the Portuguese islands of Madeira (Vaccinium padifolium Smith) and the Azores (Vaccinium cylindraceum Smith), have features of notable value to conventional blueberry development such as up- right structure, strong growth, abundant flowering and fruiting, good self-fertility, acceptable fruit quality, inflorescence structure suited to mechanical harvesting, and repeat flowering. Vaccinium cylindraceum is deciduous, whereas V. padifolium is evergreen. Vaccinium arctostaphylos L., a native of the Caucasus region, is closely allied to V. padifolium, hybridizes freely with it, and has many similar characters, but with the valuable addition of greater cold hardiness. Initial progress has been made at incorporating these species into forms compatible with Vaccinium corymbosum L. based blueberry cultivars, and further evaluations are being made of both parental material and the derived hybrids.

The primary gene pool of Vaccinium species used by breeders has traditionally been the North American Vaccinium species in section Cyanococcus. Blueberries in commercial production represent several Vaccinium species and ploidies. Moreover, significant use has been made of the secondary gene pool of Vaccinium, especially in the development of southern highbush cultivars. Section Hemimyrtillus represents species that are part of the tertiary gene pool of Vaccinium. Two species of section Hemimyrtillus, native to the Portuguese islands of Madeira (Vaccinium padifolium Smith) and the Azores (Vaccinium cylindraceum Smith), have features of notable value to conventional blueberry development such as upright structure, strong growth, abundant flowering and fruiting, good self-fertility, acceptable fruit quality, inflorescence structure suited to mechanical harvesting, and repeat flowering. Vaccinium cylindraceum is deciduous, whereas V. padifolium is evergreen. Vaccinium arctostaphylos L., a native of the Caucasus region, is closely allied to V. padifolium, hybridizes freely with it, and has many similar characters, but with the valuable addition of greater cold hardiness. Initial progress has been made at incorporating these species into forms compatible with Vaccinium corymbosum L. based blueberry cultivars, and further evaluations are being made of both parental material and the derived hybrids.

Observation of suspected blueberry red ringspot virus (BRRV) prompted a survey of the 50-acre NCSU Ideal Tract blueberry farm, and of commercial farms in surrounding counties. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing with red ringspot-specific primers was used to confirm the presence of the virus. Over 18,000 plants were surveyed visually, with PCR used for backup confirmation. The virus was detected primarily in highbush and southern highbush (Vaccinium corymbosum) seedlings, selections and cultivars. Incidence was low. Spread occurred primarily by propagation, but rare, widely scattered infections in older fields suggested an infrequent or inefficient winged vector. Hundreds of rabbiteye (V. virgatum, syn. V. ashei) bushes were also surveyed; symptoms were not observed on any rabbiteye cultivars, and were observed but not confirmed on rabbiteye seedlings. Samples from the rabbiteye 'Columbus' were negative in PCR testing. Symptoms were observed, and confirmed by PCR, on highbush and southern highbush from three surrounding counties, including wild or feral blueberries near commercial fields. Symptoms were first seen in early June, became progressively more noticeable through August, and included red rings on leaves, stems and fruit. Scattered to numerous red rings (3-6 mm) with green or pale green centers were the most frequent symptom on leaves, usually visible only on the upper leaf surface. Larger (5-15 mm) red rings or spots were visible on stems of the current season's growth. Most cultivars/clones had few or no fruit symptoms; only 'Ozarkblue' produced distorted, unmarketable fruit on infected bushes. Some infected seedlings and selections appeared to be stunted. The virus has also been reported from Georgia; in this study, southern highbush cultivars 'Star' and 'Misty', reportedly from a Georgia nursery source, were symptomatic and tested positive for the virus. Studies beginning in 2008 will assess possible seed transmission, possible vectors, and determine incidence and severity in the southeastern US.

Public funding for land-grant university plant breeding programs has declined to the point that alternative sources of funding have had to be identified in order for these programs to continue. Small fruit breeding programs at land-grant universities in the southern region of the U.S. now derive their support for day to day operations from a number of alternative funding sources including commodity organizations and research foundations. Royalty income generated from sale of plants of patented cultivars has also become a significant source of support for essentially all land grant programs. In addition, cooperative agreements and contracts with partners in private industry play a prominent role in support for several programs, and these will likely increase significantly in the near future. At present, U.S. plant patents are generally applied for upon the release of cultivars from small fruit breeding programs at land grant universities in the southern region, with some move toward trademarking. Releases are generally nonexclusive within the region, and either exclusive or nonexclusive outside the region. The use of germplasm from other breeding programs usually carries with it the expectation of mutual exchange and use of germplasm and/or sharing of royalty income from cultivars derived from such germplasm.

Studies were conducted at two locations in North Carolina, to determine the potential of producing strawberries in the fall and following spring in using conditioned plants and protective culture. These two locations represent mild and moderate winter climates in the southeastern region of the country. The experiments were set up in polyethylene covered high tunnels. Plants were set three consecutive weeks starting in early September at each location. Conditioned containerized 'Sweet Charlie' plants were obtained from a commercial nursery in the North Carolina mountains. Unconditioned (control) plants grown in Raleigh and were planted on the same dates. At the coastal plain location, conditioned and unconditioned plants produced 127-175 g/plant and 0-44g/plant respectively. At the piedmont location, conditioned plants established on the earliest date averaged 65 g/plant while those established on the last date only averaged 15 g/plant. At both locations, the first planting date produced the highest yields in the fall. Spring yields from the coastal plain region were lower than the piedmont region. Spring yields ranged from 150-350 g/plant at the coastal plain site and 200-373 g/plant at the piedmont location.

The North American raspberry and blackberry breeding programmes conducted by the USDA-ARS in Oregon (USDA), the University of Maryland (UMD), Washington State University (WSU), North Carolina State University (NCSU) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) have attempted to use at least 58 Rubus species in the Anoplobatus (2 species), Chamaemorus (1), Cylactis (1), Dalibardastrum (1), Idaeobatus (25), Inter-subgeneric hybrid (1), Malachobatus (10), Orobatus (3), and Rubus (14) subgenera in their breeding programmes over the past two decades. The species include: Rubus arcticus L., R. arcticus nothosubsp. stellarcticus G. Larsson, R. argutus Link, R. assamensis Focke, R. axillaris Lej., R. bogotensis Kunth., R. caesius L., R. canadensis L., R. caucasicus Focke, R. chamaemorus L., R. cockburnianus Hemsl., R. corchorifolius L. f., R. coreanus Miq., R. crataegifolius Bunge, R. cuneifolius Pursh., R. cyri Juz., R. deliciosus Torr, R. ellipticus Sm., R. eustephanos Focke ex Diels, R. flagellaris Willd., R. flosculosus Focke, R. formosensis Kuntze, R. georgicus Focke, R. glabratus Kunth, R. glaucus Benth., R. hayata-koidzumii Naruh, R. hirsutus Thunb., R. hoffmeisterianus Kunth & C.D. Bouche, R. hunanensis Hand.-Mazz., R. idaeus L., R. idaeus subsp. strigosus, R. innominatus S. Moore, R. insularis F. Aresch, R. irenaeus Focke, R. lambertianus Ser., R. lasiostylus Focke, R. leucodermis Douglas ex Torr. & A. Gray, R. multibracteatus H. Lev. & Vaniot, R. niveus Thunb., R. nubigenus Kunth (syn. R. macrocarpus Benth.), R. occidentalis L., R. parviflorus Nutt., R. parvifolius L., R. phoenicolasius Maxim., R. pileatus Focke, R. pinfaensis H. Lev. & Vaniot, R. pungens Cambess., R. roseus Poir., R. rosifolius Sm., R. sachalinensis H. Lev., R. setchuenensis Bur. & Franch., R. spectabilis Pursh, R. strigosus Michx., R. sumatranus Miq., R. swinhoeii Hance, R. tephrodes Hance, R. trifidus Thunb., R. trivialis Michx., R. tsangorum Hand.-Mazz., R. ursinus Cham. & Schltdl., and R. urticifolius Poir. The experiences of these five programmes with these species have been compiled and are available at: http://www.ars-grin.gov/cor/rubus/rubus.uses.html .

In the United States, anthracnose fruit and crown rots of strawberry, incited by the fungal species Colletotrichum acutatum, C. fragariae, and C. gloeosporioides, were initially considered 'southeastern' diseases. These diseases are becoming significant problems in other strawberry production regions in the eastern United States. The rapid shift to the annual plasticulture production system in parts of the eastern U.S. is thought to play an integral part in the increased significance of anthracnose throughout North America. Breeding for genetic-based resistance to the disease is considered to be one of the primary means for reducing economic loses due to anthracnose outbreaks. Studies in the eastern U.S. indicate that resistance to strawberry anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum acutatum appears to be quantitative in nature. A greenhouse screening procedure has been effective in identifying resistant genotypes in seedling progenies, with over 32,000 resistant strawberry seedlings identified between 1998 and 1999.

Two half diallel mating designs were conducted to study the inheritance of resistance to Colletotrichum acutatum Simmonds on runners of strawberry. The main design included six genotypes representing a range of responses to the pathogen: 'Chandler' (very susceptible); FL 87-210 (tolerant); MS[US 541 (very resistant); NC 92-01 (Fragaria chiloensis Duch.) (resistant); NCH 87-10 (tolerant-susceptible); and NCC 89-39 (susceptible). The cross 'Chandler' x MS[US 541 was absent. The secondary test included 'Chandler' and selections FL 87-210 and NC 85-01 (Fragaria virginiana Duch.) (very resistant) as parents. Griffing's methods 4 and 2, model I, were used to test for combining ability in the main and secondary tests, respectively. General combining ability and specific combining ability were highly significant in all analyses. This study indicated that nonadditive effects are more important than additive effects in the inheritance of resistance of runners to anthracnose. The frequency distribution of lesion lengths within progenies suggests that resistance to C. acutatum on runners is quantitative. Therefore, breeding for resistance should be accomplished using progeny testing followed by individual selection within progenies.

In addition to standard tetraploid highbush blueberry (V. corymbosum L.) and hexaploid rabbiteye blueberry (V. ashei reade) cultivar development, the major thrust of the North Carolina breeding program involves interspecific hybridization and introgression involving 13 species in Vaccinium section Cyanococcus and one species each in sections Batodendron, Polycodium and Pyxothamnus. These latter efforts are directed primarily toward development of tetraploid southern highbush genotypes; and in addition to V. darrowi, involve V. amoenum, V. angustifolium, V. arboreum, V. ashei, V. elliottii, V. myrsinites, V. myrtilloides, V. ovatum, V. pallidum, V. simulatum, V. stamineum, and V. tenellum. Pentaploid hybrids involving V. corymbosum x V. ashei, V, corymbosum x (V. constablaei x V. ashei), V. angustifolilum x V. ashei, V. pallidum x V. ashei and V. pallidum x V. amoenum are also being backcrossed to hexaploid genotypes. In addition, V. angustifolium and V. elliottii are specifically being used to incorporate resistance to stem blight (Botryosphaeria dothidea), while V. amoenum, V. ashei and V. elliottii and serving as sources of natural resistance to the sharpnosed leafhopper (Scaphytopius magdalensis blueberry stunt MLO vector). Elite genotypes at the tetraploid, pentaploid and hexaploid chromosome levels are currently being evaluated as potential new cultivars for fruit production.

ABSTRACT Blueberry breeding in North Carolina was initiated to develop cultivars resistant to diseases and insects indigenous to the southeastern United States. As a result of 55 years of blueberry breeding effort, 109 resistant genotypes have originated. These genotypes were screened for stem canker [Botryosphaeria cortkis (Demaree & Wilcox) Arx & Muller], stem blight [Botryosphaeria dothidea (Mouq.rFr.) Ces. & de Not] and/or sharp-nosed leafhopper, vector of blueberry stunt, [Scaphytopius magdalensis (Provancher)]. These genotypes are currently being used in the breeding program and are also available to cooperating blueberry breeding programs.

yield was not different among cultivars (Table 1).Mechanical harvesting did not result in differences in total yield among any of the cultivars, and only 'Croatan' showed a reduction in fruit recovered from mechanical harvesting compared to hand-harvesting.'Bladen' had about the same percentage of ripe fruit recovered at first harvest (31 May to 2 June) as 'Reveille' and 'O'Neal' and a higher percentage than 'Croatan'.'Bladen' fruit weight was similar to that of 'Croatan', whether mechanically or hand-harvested.Mechanically harvested 'Bladen' fruit was equal in color to hand-harvested 'O'Neal' and superior to mechanically harvested O'Neal fruit.Color of hand-and mechanically harvested 'Bladen' and 'Reveille' fruit were similar when fully ripened.'Bladen' color, whether hand-or mechanically harvested, was similar to that of 'O'Neal'.Hand-harvested 'Bladen' fruit was as firm as hand-harvested 'Reveille'; mechanically harvested 'Bladen' fruit was less firm than mechanically harvested 'Reveille' fruit.Mechanically harvested 'Bladen' fruit was similar in firmness to hand-harvested 'Croatan' and firmer than mechanically harvested fruit of that cultivar.'Bladen' flavor ratings, in our opinion, and fruit scar ratings were similar to those of 'Reveille' and higher than those of 'Croatan'.The fruit scar rating for 'Bladen', whether hand-or mechanically harvested, was higher than that of mechanically harvested 'O'Neal'; flavor ratings between these two cultivars were similar regardless of harvest method.Plots were hand-harvested only at Castle Hayne (Table 2).Yield was significantly higher

d n n The ‘Delmarvel’ strawberry ( Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) was introduced for propa gation to nurseries in Feb. 1994 by the U Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Rutgers Univ. and The Ohio State Univ. ‘Delmarvel’ wa selected for its high plant vigor; attractiv symmetrical, and large fruit with good colo and flavor and outstanding aroma; late-ea to early-midseason ripening; and resistance the red-stele root-rot disease (incited Phytophthora fragariae Hickman). ‘Delmarvel’ also has shown resistance to a thracnose fruit rot and stolon infection (caus by Colletotrichum acutatum Simmonds). ‘Delmarvel’ fruit are firm and tough-skinned they handle well and have a low proportion culls. ‘Delmarvel’ yielded as well as ‘Allstar in Maryland, as ‘Raritan’ in New Jersey, an as ‘Glooscap’ in Kentucky. ‘Delmarvel’ ha fruit that approached the size of ‘Allstar’ i Maryland, had larger fruit than ‘Raritan’ i

'NC 194' is a primocane-fruiting thorny erect tetraploid blackberry that resulted from selfing 'Arkansas 593.' It fruits in both spring/early summer and fall, with a prolonged fall fruiting season in North Carolina. Fruit size is small fruit quality and firmness are average, and the plant is weak vegetatively. 'NC 194' does not appear to have potential as a fruiting cultivar on its own merits. However, it is potentially valuable as a source of genes for transferring the primocane-fruiting habit to improved tetraploid blackberry genotypes. The primocane-fruiting habit in this genetic background appears to be recessive and simply inherited in tetrasomic fashion, with degree of expression governed by modifier genes.

Flower bud and leaf samples collected from a wide range of native North American Vaccinium populations were tested for the presence of blueberry shoestring virus (BBSSV) using the enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay. The highest disease incidence was found in Michigan (14%), although a few positive samples also were found in Virginia, New Jersey, Maine, Ontario, and Quebec. Of seven species tested, only V. corymbosum L. and V. angustifolium Ait. were infected with BBSSV.