Blueberry firmness is a crucial factor affecting shelf-life, fruit quality and consumer acceptance. Rabbiteye (RE; Vaccinium virgatum) blueberries are noted for their tough skin and lower pulp firmness compared to southern highbush (SHB; Vaccinium corymbosum L.). Yet limited firmness data is available on newly released RE genotypes bred for high yield, large berry size and increased firmness. The research objective was to evaluate weight loss, fruit firmness, and berry diameter on 14 RE and 3 SHB genotypes through storage. Blueberries were harvested from E.V. Smith Research station (Tallassee, AL) in 2024, then stored at 4 °C and 85% relative humidity. Four postharvest timepoints were followed: days 0, 14, 28, and 42 in storage. Firmness and fruit size were measured using a FruitFirm1000 texture analyzer, and weight loss was recorded using a digital scale. Significant changes in weight loss (%), firmness (g/mm), and fruit size (mm) during storage were found for the interaction between genotype and days in storage. On day 42, RE genotypes of ‘T-3081’, ‘Vernon’, and ‘T-3075’ exhibited the lowest weight loss at 7.2%, 7.8%, and 7.9%, respectively. Conversely, ‘MS1228R’ (18.3%), ‘MS1110R’ (13.6%), and ‘Titan’ (13.2%) (RE genotypes) and ‘Newhanover’ (14.9%) (SHB genotype) had the highest weight loss. During storage, most cultivars decreased in berry diameter. RE genotypes ‘Titan’, ‘T-3081’, and ‘T-3075’ had the largest diameter (24.9, 24.1, and 26.1 mm, respectively) at harvest and retained fruit diameter through storage (23.7, 23.4, and 26.1 mm, respectively). At harvest (day 0), ‘Titan’ (RE) had the highest firmness (287 g/mm), while ‘MS1110R’ (RE) had the lowest (152 g/mm). After 6 weeks of storage (day 42), RE genotypes of ‘Titan’, ‘Vernon’, ‘T-3075’, and SHB ‘Legacy’ maintained high firmness (˃200 g/mm), while ‘Alapaha’ (RE), ‘NewHanover’(SHB), and ‘MS1110R’ (RE) were lowest (˂150 g/mm). Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) identified three distinct firmness clusters, categorizing cultivars into enhanced (‘Titan’, ‘T-3075’), moderate (‘Legacy’, ‘Overtime’, and ‘T-3081’), and suppressed firmness (‘Alapaha’, ‘Krewer’, ‘Brightwell’, and ‘MS1110R’). HCA was crucial in selecting 10 genotypes (7 RE and 3 SHB) for future cell wall and texture analysis. This study provided valuable data for growers to select RE genotypes with maintained firmness and shelf-life. This data will aid blueberry breeders in selecting high-quality and competitive RE genotypes.
