Water Stress, Growth, and Critical Water Potentials of Rabbiteye Blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade)1

Moderate and severe water-stress, as determined by decreases in stomatal conductance, resulted in significant reduction of leaf area and plant weight in 1-year-old containerized ‘Bluegem’ rabbiteye blueberry. Drought-tolerance appeared to be intermediate to other plant species based on a number of physiological factors. Critical water potential for stomatal closure was −2.2 MPa, transpiration ratio averaged 222 g of water transpired per g dry matter produced and relative water content changed 6.4% per 1.0 MPa change in water potential.