Abstract
This study was undertaken to clarify the effect of fertilizer application, topping and shading on the shoot length and flower-bud formation.1. Taking root ratio of cutting Percentage of taking root was high, regardless of type or cultivar in both hardwood and softwood cutting. 2. Effects of fertilizer level and application time In both treatments of basal fertilizer and side dressing one, the flower-bud formation also increased with the increase in fertilizer level. The number of flower buds of the rooted cutting in hardwood was more than that in softwood cutting, and 'Tifblue' was more abundant than that of the 'Northland'. The flower-bud number was also the most abundant on both cultivars in the side dressing fertilizer in August. 3. Effects of topping and shading Heavy topping decreased spring shoot length, but did not affect the number of flower buds. In both cultivars Woodard and 'Northland', the effect of the shading of the flower-bud number was bigger than that of the spring shoot length, and the number of flower buds remarkably decreased, when the shading rate increased. As the results of the cultivar comparative experiment, Rabbiteye blueberry 'Woodard' is suitable for pot culture plants, because many flower buds and branch are abundant, and it spreads to the width and low height.
