Genetic Structure and Population Diversity of Mummy Berry (Monilinia) Collections from the United States of America and Canada

Abstract

Blueberry belongs to the genus Vaccinium of the Ericaceae family (Hancock, 1995). It is one of most recent fruits developed in the Americas and one of a handful of fruit indigenous to this region. The four agriculturally important sections of Vaccinium are blueberries (subgenus Cyanococcus), cranberries (Oxycoccus), lingonberries (Vitisidaea) and billberries (Myrtillus). Wild cranberries, lingonberries and billberries are found in North America and Europe. The four species of cultivated blueberry are highbush (V. cotymbosum), lowbush (V. myrtilloides Michx. and V. angustifolium) and rabbiteye (V. ashie Reade). Highbush blueberry is the most economically important blueberry species (Hancock, 1995).