The effects of water deficit on highbush blueberry (Varcinium corymbosum L.
) have been little studied. This study, conducted on container-planted shru
bs, aimed at determining the influence of water stress on growth, water rel
ations and fruit production of the plant during two consecutive years. Drou
ght periods of approximately 3 weeks, as monitored from the transpiration o
f control plants, were applied at various phenological stages of plant deve
lopment, from blossoming to harvest, so as to evaluate their direct effects
. Highbush blueberry reacted very quickly to drought by reducing transpirat
ion and stopping stem diameter growth and shoot elongation. Its ability to
recover depended on the stress level and the drought implementation dynamic
s. Under moderate stress (35% less transpiration than a well-watered shrub)
the recovery potential was almost complete. In all cases water stress duri
ng fruit growth and ripening strongly influenced yield by reducing the mean
fruit weight and size. Drought after-effects, as assessed from one season
to the other, were small, except when stress occurred during flower inducti
on. In that c:ase the number of Rowers was reduced in the following year as
well as the number of fruits, although fruit size was greater resulting in
only a slight reduction in yield. In all cases, photosynthetic performance
during the following year appeared not to alter, but water stress imposed
to obtain large fruit cannot replace pruning without jeopardising the shrub
architecture. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.