A Systematic Review of Integrated Management in Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.): Technological Innovation, Sustainability, and Practices in Propagation, Physiology, Agronomy, Harvest, and Postharvest

The cultivation of blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) has undergone an unprecedented global expansion, driven by its nutraceutical value and the diversification of production zones across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Its consolidation as a strategic crop has prompted intensive scientific activity aimed at optimizing every stage of management from propagation and physiology to harvest, postharvest, and environmental sustainability. However, the available evidence remains fragmented, limiting the integration of results and the formulation of knowledge-based, comparative production strategies. The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize scientific and technological advances related to the integrated management of blueberry cultivation, incorporating physiological, agronomic, technological, and environmental dimensions. The PRISMA 2020 methodology (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) was applied to ensure transparency and reproducibility in the search, selection, and analysis of scientific literature indexed in the Scopus database. After screening, 367 articles met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed comparatively and thematically. The results reveal significant progress in propagation using hydrogel and micropropagation techniques, efficient fertigation practices, and the integration of climate control operations within greenhouses, leading to improved yield and fruit quality. Likewise, non-thermal technologies, edible coatings, and harvest automation enhance postharvest quality and reduce losses. In terms of sustainability, the incorporation of water reuse and waste biorefinery has emerged as key strategies to reduce the environmental footprint and promote circular systems. Among the main limitations are the lack of methodological standardization, the scarce economic evaluation of innovations, and the weak linkage between experimental and commercial scales. It is concluded that integrating physiology, technology, and sustainability within a unified management framework is essential to consolidate a resilient, low-carbon, and technologically advanced fruit-growing system.