Breeder receives positive feedback from growers in Mexico and China about its productivity, size, efficiency, and adaptability
Planasa says uptake of its Blue Maldiva variety is increasing in different regions of the world.
“From Mexico to China, and including other locations such as Morocco and South Africa, growers with very different agronomic realities agree on the high yield, fruit quality, and productive efficiency of this variety,” the breeder said.
After working with different varieties and encountering problems with plant health and insufficient quality for export markets, growers in Ahualulco, Mexico are increasing turning to Blue Maldiva as a more efficient alternative to other cultivars.
According to José Urbina, “the variety stands out for offering large fruit with excellent firmness, sweetness, and flavour – essential qualities for international trade”. Between 60 and 80 per cent of Blue Maldiva’s production is jumbo fruit, guaranteeing a harvest that is almost entirely exportable.
Another distinguishing feature is its plant architecture. Unlike other varieties that develop very large bushes, Blue Maldiva exhibits more controlled growth, allowing the plant to concentrate its energy on fruit production.
“A single bunch of Blue Maldiva can be productively equivalent to dozens of branches of previous varieties that produced smaller fruit,” Urbina said.
According to Planasa, this efficiency is further enhanced by its earliness: just 150 days after pruning, the plants are already in full production. Furthermore, input requirements are lower, both in terms of nutrition and phytosanitary applications, thanks to its low susceptibility to pests and diseases.
“In terms of water consumption, the differences are also significant: while Blue Maldiva requires around 200 litres per hectare, other varieties can reach 600 litres, making this variety a more sustainable and profitable option,” Planasa said.
“Harvesting is another advantage. The large size and uniformity of the fruit facilitate fieldwork, allowing for higher yields per day and optimising labour. Adaptation to local conditions has been accompanied by continuous technical work with Planasa engineers, including regular visits to adjust nutrition programmes, detect potential issues, and optimise crop management.”
Urbina described Blue Maldiva as “a very productive variety that will definitely not fall short in production”.
In China’s Yunnan province, meanwhile, Xiaobao Ge, head of Yunnan Baoming Agriculture, manages a 30ha farm located at almost 1,900m above sea level, an altitude that decisively influences the organoleptic profile of the blueberry.
“At this altitude, the fruit’s flavour is better, more aromatic and sweet, and the fruit is also crisper. Compared to lower-altitude areas, the performance is much more outstanding,” he explained.
Before opting for Planasa’s genetics, the Yunnan Baoming team carried out a thorough evaluation process, comparing different varieties and analysing their performance under various growing conditions. Ultimately, the company said several factors tipped the scales in favour of Blue Maldiva, including its productivity; high percentage of large-sized fruit and good disease resistance.
“But most importantly, the overall economic return is very positive” Ge said. He noted that during field evaluations, even at early stages of ripening the fruit reached sizes 18+ and 20+, with over 80 per cent of the production exceeding 22mm. Measurements also recorded fruit of 25+ and even 27mm, confirming the high percentage of large fruit.
“I really like Blue Maldiva overall and I’m very satisfied with its performance,” he concluded.
