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Abstract
This research examines cultural practices to improve the quality, yield, and establishment of young blueberry plants in Georgia. This research investigated the use of photoselective devices (Opti-Gro and ChromaGro) on ‘Meadowlark’ and ‘Keecrisp’ cultivars. These devices improved overall the growth and establishment of young blueberry plants. Asynchronous ripening in blueberries requires multiple harvests to ensure better fruit quality; however, labor shortages and increasing costs have led to mechanical and prolonged harvest intervals, resulting in compromised berry quality for the fresh market. The second part of this thesis addressed these issues by evaluating different harvest intervals on the postharvest quality of southern highbush and rabbiteye blueberries. Results showed that shorter intervals maintained higher firmness and reduced berry damage, while longer intervals increased weight loss and anthocyanin content. Together, these studies provide strategies to optimize blueberry establishment, yield, quality, and storage life through the use of photoselective technologies and optimized harvest timing.