Blueberry Genetic Diversity Collection

A total of 195 blueberry accessions (Tables S2, S3, Fig. S5) were used in this study. These individuals represented the following species: V. tenellum (N = 38), V. darrowii (N = 81), V. myrsinites (N = 29), V. boreale (N = 14), and V. corymbosum (N = 33). V. myrsinites and V. corymbosum (except NJOPB-8) accessions are tetraploid (2n = 4x = 48), and V. tenellum, V. darrowii, and V. boreale accessions are diploid (2n = 2x = 24). The NJOPB-8 is a diploid V. corymbosum clone originated from Burlington County, New Jersey. The plants were collected across North America in 1980s and 1990s, propagated, and maintained under greenhouse conditions at Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry & Cranberry Research and Extension managed by Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. For DNA extractions, only a few young leaves were collected in 15-mL centrifuge tubes, kept in dry ice, transferred to Delaware State University, and stored at − 80 °C for later use. We confirm that IUCN Policy Statement includes all methods as per the Convention on the Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Since these are perennial plants, all the above accessions remain at Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry & Cranberry Research and Extension.