Journal of Berry Research - Volume 1, issue 4

Authors: Niki, Etsuo

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: The role of antioxidants in the maintenance of health and prevention of disorders and diseases has received much attention. Above all, the action and effects of natural antioxidants contained in foods, fruits, spices, beverages and dietary supplements have been the subjects of extensive studies. The capacity of antioxidants has been assessed by various methods, but they often give inconsistent and conflicting results. Animal and human studies do not always support the beneficial effects of antioxidants and the methods for assessment of antioxidant effect are critically needed. In the present article, the methods of assessment of antioxidant capacity are critically reviewed.

Keywords: Antioxidant capacity assay, free radical, lipid peroxidation, natural antioxidant

DOI: 10.3233/JBR-2011-018

Citation: Journal of Berry Research, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 169-176, 2011

Authors: Fernández-Fernández, F. | Antanaviciute, L. | Govan, C.L. | Sargent, D.J.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This study aimed to develop a standardised and cost effective protocol for fingerprinting red raspberry germplasm using microsatellite (SSR) markers. Twenty SSRs well distributed through the raspberry genome were screened on 16 genetically diverse cultivars to assess polymorphism, allele size range, quality of amplification, ease of scoring, and discriminating power (DF). We selected published SSR markers that were highly informative, consistently easy to score, provided good genome coverage and could be conveniently amplified into two multiplexed reactions. As a proof of concept, the fingerprinting set was used to genotype 37 red raspberry cultivars of various origins and 19 advanced selections …from our breeding programme. The multiplexed set amplified consistently the same products originated by single reactions and it reliably discriminated all non-clonal accessions including full-sib genotypes. Furthermore the set was tested on 19 accessions of eight related Rubus species to assess its transferability. Provided control samples are included, this set will permit research groups to share data accurately and easily. The use of DNA fingerprinting to ensure trueness-to-type of clonally propagated horticultural crops is increasingly common and this multiplexed set constitutes a reliable, convenient and economic tool for raspberry genotyping. Show more

Keywords: Genotyping, trueness-to-type, SSR, caneberry

DOI: 10.3233/JBR-2011-019

Citation: Journal of Berry Research, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 177-187, 2011

Authors: Horszwald, Anna | Andlauer, Wilfried

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Berries and berry production are an important economic factor. Berries contain nutritive components but also pertinent non-nutritive bioactives like phenolic-type phytochemicals. It is well accepted that consumption of bioactives from berries prevent or delay chronic and degenerative diseases. Therefore, a thorough evaluation of bioactive compounds is of utmost interest to assess berry quality. The most accepted photometric methods for the determination of bioactive compounds are presented for conventional cuvette and modern microplate applications. All methods are precisely described and advantages of the microplate methods are discussed. Cuvette and microplate methods show slightly different sensitivity and limits of detection depending on …concentrations used for reagents and standard compounds. In general, with microplate methods reagents can be saved up to 12-fold and less time to perform the analyses is needed (up to factor 33). Applicability of all the methods has been shown with selected berry juices. Among all analysed commercial juices, blueberry juice had the highest content of total polyphenols, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, while the lowest content was observed in pomegranate juice. Blueberry juice had also the highest antioxidant capacity measured by TEAC by ABTS, FRAP and ORAC method when compared to the cranberry, açai, goji and pomegranate juice. Show more

Keywords: Blueberry, cranberry, goji, açai, pomegranate, bioactive compounds, photometric methods, antioxidant activity, microplate

DOI: 10.3233/JBR-2011-020

Citation: Journal of Berry Research, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 189-199, 2011

Authors: Dolan, A. | MacFarlane, S.A. | McGavin, W.J. | Brennan, R.M. | McNicol, J.W.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: A study was commenced in 2005 to provide a validated diagnostic test for the detection of Blackcurrant reversion virus (BRV) to be used as an alternative to the conventional test recommended for use in the UK certification scheme. A range of cultivars previously virus indexed and held as nuclear stock (Baldwin, Ben Lomond and Ben Tirran) were grafted with known BRV-positive scions and assessed over the following four years. Data was collected through visual observations and buds sampled and tested with a single round RT-PCR using two new primer sets. For the method to be accepted for use in Scotland …the detection rate must be equal or better than that of the existing grafting method. Statistical analysis of our results for the detection of both the European (E) and Russian (R) forms of Reversion disease in the three cultivars provides a validation for this test. We suggest that this method provides a faster throughput test for BRV even when no symptoms are visible on the plants, and so is suitable for adoption into the guidelines followed by both UK and European authorities for detection of BRV in blackcurrant propagation material. Show more

Keywords: Blackcurrant reversion virus (BRV), RT-PCR, UK certification scheme, EPPO, PHPS, nuclear stock

DOI: 10.3233/JBR-2011-021

Citation: Journal of Berry Research, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 201-208, 2011

Authors: Corona, Giulia | Tang, Fiona | Vauzour, David | Rodriguez-Mateos, Ana | Spencer, Jeremy P.E.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: There is significant interest in the beneficial health properties of anthocyanins/anthocyanidins. Future investigations into their physiological effects will require human intervention with precise amounts of anthocyanins/anthocyanidins. We have investigated the total anthocyanin/anthocyanidin content of common berry fruits and designed an intervention diet intended to deliver a balanced profile of different anthocyanidins. Using acid hydrolysis and HPLC-diode array analysis we report the individual profile and total anthocyanidin profile/content of blueberry (148.76 mg/100 g FW), blackberry (76.78 mg/100 g FW), cranberry (19.30 mg/100 g FW), black grape (28.09 mg/100 g FW), raspberry (104.38 mg/100 g FW) and strawberry (41.09 mg/100 g FW). …The measured anthocyanidin content in the various fruits was used to design an intervention diet (15 g of blueberry, 5 g of blackberry, 30 g cranberry, 20 g of grape, 5 g of raspberry and 25 g of strawberry; 100 g mixed fruit portion) capable of delivering high amounts of the six main anthocyanidins. Show more

Keywords: Anthocyanins, berries, HPLC, hydrolysis

DOI: 10.3233/JBR-2011-022

Citation: Journal of Berry Research, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 209-216, 2011