To gain a better understanding of changes in gene expression associated with cold acclimation in the woody perennial blueberry (Vaccinium spp.), a genomics approach based on the analysis of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) was undertaken. Two cDNA libraries were constructed using RNA from cold acclimated and non-acclimated floral buds of the blueberry cultivar Bluecrop and about 600 5′-end ESTs w...

The work of pollinators is crucial to the sustainability of plant communities in natural and agricultural ecosystems; however, pollinators are declining in much of the developed world due to a variety of parasites, diseases, and environmental stresses. These experiments are the first to examine directly the impact of honey bee, Apis mellifera, nest invaders on plant pollination and fitness. A c...

EFFECTS OF CARBON DIOXIDE ENRICHMENT AND IRRADIANCE ON EX VITRO ROOTING, ACCLIMATIZATION AND SUBSEQUENT GROWTH OF MICROPROPAGATED APPLE AND BLUEBERRY. Marvin Pritts and Dorcas Isuta*, Cornell University, Fruit and Vegetable Science Department. 134A Plant Science Building, Ithaca, NY 14850 Previous findings reveal that rooting and acclimatization of apple and blueberry plants is often difficult ...

Vaccinium myrtillus L. (blueberry) leaf infusions are traditionally used as a folk medicine treatment of diabetes. To further define this therapeutical action, a dried hydroalcoholic extract of the leaf was administered orally to streptozotocin-diabetic rats for 4 days. Plasma glucose levels were consistently found to drop by about 26% at two different stages of diabetes. Unexpectedly, plasma t...

Abstract In the Canadian Maritimes, many beekeepers rent honey bee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Apidae), hives to growers of lowbush blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium (Ericaceae), for pollination services. Anecdotally, have less vigour following pollination, potentially due higher Nosema spp. (Nosematidae) spore loads, microsporidian causing nosemosis. We undertook a study determine ...

A series of bioassays were conducted to determine the relative toxicities and residual activities of insecticides labeled for use in blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) on natural enemies, to identify products with low toxicity or short duration effects on biological control agents. In total, 14 insecticides were evaluated using treated petri dishes and four commercially available natural enemi...

Blueberry growers in Maine attend annual Cooperative Extension presentations given by university faculty members. These presentations cover topics, such as, how to prevent plant disease and monitor for insect pests. In 2012, in order to make the sessions more interactive and promote learning, clicker questions and peer discussion were incorporated into the presentations. Similar to what has bee...

Over a period of 19 yr, the harvestman (Opiliones) community associated with the lowbush blueberry agro-ecosystem in Maine was studied. Eight species representing five genera, four subfamilies, and two families of harvestmen belonging to the suborder Eupnoi were collected. The harvestman community was dominated by two introduced, synanthropic species: Phalangium opilio in all but 1 yr (that ye...

Introduction Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) is a member of the Ericaceae family, and is also known as European blueberry, huckleberry, whortleberry, or blueberry. It is a shrubby perennial plant one to two feet in height and can be found in the mountains and forests of Europe and the northern United States. Its branches contain alternating, elliptical, bright green leaves, and its flowers, whic...