The popularity of Vaccinium corymbosum blueberry cv. has increased over time because its fruits are highly valued for their taste, aroma, and multiple ways of use. A field trial with two genotypes and their hybrids was organized during 2021−2022 at the Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti-Maracineni, Romania. This paper proposes a comparative analysis of the quality of berries in 17 hybrids of the 'Simultan' and 'Duke' cultivars, selected by the size and the soluble solid content, in agreement with the objectives of the blueberry breeding program. The genotype influence on berry weight, total soluble solids, pH, vitamin C, total polyphenols, total flavonoids, total anthocyanins, lycopene, β-carotene, and antioxidant activity was determined considering the climatic factors. The results showed that fruit weight varied between 1.22 and 2.47 g, total soluble solids reached a maximum of 19.22 °Brix, and the pH oscillated between 3.14 and 3.89. Vitamin C content varied from 9.52 to 18.69 mg in 100 g fresh weight, with an average of 14.35 mg/100 g. Total polyphenol, flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents averaged 709.92 mg gallic acid equivalent in 100 g fresh weight, 165.48 mg catechin equivalent in 100 g fresh weight, and 81.88 mg cyanidin-3-O-glucoside equivalent in 100 g fresh weight, respectively. Results show that the strategy of growers to produce blueberries with a large diameter, visually attractive for traders and consumers, is not sufficient for repeat sales. Our study proves that large fruits do not have the highest content of bioactive compounds. Smaller berries had higher polyphenol, lycopene, and β-carotene contents. It is recommended that the selection of the hybrid in the breeding program also takes into account the content of bioactive compounds.

In last years, highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) has gained great popularity, mainly due to its appreciated taste and multiple uses. The biochemical composition of blueberries has an important role in health and nutrition. Studies have shown that bioactive compounds can reduce the risk of many diseases. This study was conducted over a period of three years to assess the size of the fruit average weight per fruit, diameter, firmness, total titratable acidity, color, total soluble solids (°Brix), pH, but also the total content of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins and carotenoids, along with vitamin C and total sugar. Three blueberry genotypes ('Azur', 'Delicia', and 'Northblue') and two advanced selections ('4/6', and '6/38') were studied. The plants were grown at the Research Institute for Pomiculture Pitesti - Maracineni, Romania, in open field studies in randomized block with three repetitions (5 plants/ genotype/ repetition). The researches showed the following: the average weight / plant recorded values between 2.07 g ('Northblue' cv.) and 2.64 g ('6/38'); the size of the fruit varied between 12.10 mm ('4/6') and 17.45 mm ('Azur' cv.); the firmness had values between 15.33 N ('Northblue' cv.) and 18.45 N ('Azur' cv.); total titratable acidity of highbush blueberry increased from 0.625% for '4/6' elite to 0.960% for 'Northblue' cv.); total soluble solids varied between 12.9 °Brix ('6/38') and 15.59 °Brix ('Delicia' cv.); colorimetry ranged from 27.19 (L*), 0.19 (a*), -2.66 (b*) ('Azur' cv.) to 34.23 (L*), 0.72 (a*), -3.13 (b*) ('Delicia' cv.). Total polyphenols recorded values between 284.4 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) g/ 100 g fresh weight (fw) ('Azur' cv.) and 481.6 mg GAE/100 g fresh weight ('Northblue' cv.); total flavonoids had values between 110.6 mg catechin equivalents/100 g) CE /100 g ('Delicia' cv.) and 160.8 mg CE/100 g ('6/38'); total anthocyanins recorded values between 10.35 mg cyanidin-3-O-glucoside equivalents (C 3-G)/100 fresh weight ('Azur' cv.) and 56.03 mg cy3GE/100 g ('6/38'); total tannins varied between 160.5 mg GAE/100 g ('6/38') and 335.2 mg GAE/100 g ('4/6'); total sugar varied between 21.14 g glucose/100 g ('Northblue' cv.) and 30.67 g glucose /100 g ('Azur' cv.), and vitamin C content had values between 2.27 mg/100 g ('Azur' cv.) and 5.85 mg/100g ('Delicia' cv. and '6/38'). These genotypes having highest physico-chemical qualities could be used in blueberry breeding programs in order to obtain new genotipes.

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Vaccinium corymbosum is one of the berry species with economic and food interest to Romanian growers and consumers. The development of blueberrty crop is a result of breeding activity, which has generated many cultivars of quality fruit and high productivity. The characters that are of economic interest in the cultivation of blueberries depend on the area of cultivation where the new cultivars are obtained. The study was conducted in summer 2020 in an experimental plot established in 2015 with seven blueberry genotypes, at Research Institute for Fruit Growing, Pitesti, Romania in the Small Fruit Laboratory, having an experience in the field of more than 40 years. The objective at this study is to compare some of fruit characteristics from genotypes 'Azur', 'Delicia', 'Duke', 'Northblue', 'Simultan', '4/6' and '6/38': plant yield, average fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, the soluble solids, fruit acidity or pH, fruit firmness. During this study 'Delicia' cv. proved to have the highest production per plant (4.20 kg plant), the highest values of fruit diameter (19.70 mm), and the highest value of fruit total titratable acidity (01.25 %).

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