Vaccinium Hybrids with the Species of Section Hemimyrtillus

Section Hemimyrtillus species are part of the tertiary gene pool of Vaccinium and by taxonomic indications should be extremely difficult to hybridize with conventional blueberry materials. Two species of Section Hemimyrtillus, native, respectively, to the Portuguese islands of Madeira (V. padifolium Smith), and the Azores (V. cylindraceum Smith) have features of notable value to conventional blueberry breeding; among these, upright structure, strong growth, abundant flowering and fruiting, good self-fertility, acceptable fruit quality, inflorescence structure suited to mechanical harvesting, and repeat flowering. Among these two one is deciduous and one evergreen. Another Section Hemimyrtillus species, Vaccinium arctostaphylos L., is a native of the Caucasus region and is closely allied to V. padifolium. V. arctostaphylos has many similar characters, but a valuable difference of greater cold hardiness. Although these species appear distantly related to conventional blueberries, notable initial progress has been made at incorporating these species into forms compatible with V. corymbosum-based blueberry cultivars, and further evaluations are being made of both parental material and the derived hybrids.