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Plant Science Today (PST)

Review Articles

Vol. 13 No. sp2 (2026): Recent Advances in Agriculture

Feasibility, agro-climatic constraints and future prospects of blueberry cultivation in India: A critical review

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.12415
Submitted
25 October 2025
Published
11-05-2026

Abstract

Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.), which are commonly considered as an effective superfruit in the world, are receiving growing interest in India with their high profile of antioxidants, their functional health advantages and their new consumer acceptance. This review is a synthesis of the existing knowledge about blueberry farming in the Indian environment, with its opportunities and challenges. Agronomic constraints like acidic soils, optimum pH (4.2–5.5), shallow root systems and particular chilling requirements make it difficult to fit out very wide, but low-chill southern highbush cultivars are suitable for India. Chilling hour ranges for northern highbush (800–1200 hr), rabbiteye (300–600 hr), lowbush (> 1000 hr) and southern highbush (200–600 hr) cultivars. The climatic and biological limitations encompass heat stress and nutrient imbalances, which require integrated management in terms of precision irrigation, organic amendments and mycorrhizal associations. Pollination is another important determinant of yield and fruit quality and insect-mediated pollination is much more effective in increasing berry size, seed counts and evenness. Blueberries are also a nutritious source of anthocyanins (approximately 50–300 mg 100 g-1 fresh weight), phenolic compounds (250–560 mg 100 g-1  fresh weight) and vitamin C (9.7–24 mg 100 g-1  fresh weight) with high amounts of dietary fibre. It has opportunities in the sale of premium fresh fruits, value-added products and possibly exporting products, but the cold-chain infrastructure is limited. Lastly, it requires a long-term sustainability of taking environmentally friendly measures, restoring the soil health and using cultivars that are resistant to climate change. Taken together, this review highlights the idea that strategic research, breeding and market integration may help blueberries to be an innovative and high-value horticultural crop in India.

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