Journal of Berry Research - Volume 2, issue 3

Authors: de Oliveira, Pedro Bras | Dale, Adam

Article Type: Review Article

Abstract: Corema album (Ericaceae), ‘Camarinhas’, or the ‘white crowberry’, is a white-berried perennial adapted to sandy soils in the Iberian Peninsula which has been consumed by humans for many centuries. It occurs naturally on sand dunes and cliffs of the Atlantic coast from Gibraltar to Finisterre, and in the Azores on volcanic lava and ash fields. It has the possibility to become a new niche berry crop, because its fruits have a distinct colour (white), and provide high nutritional value. It has the potential to spread throughout southern Europe and the Mediterranean basin. The round, white, berry-like drupes (0.3–0.5 g), have …a strong skin, and usually have three large seeds with a thick endocarp. The fruits can be marketable after five days at room temperature, and some samples have been acceptable after five months at 4°C. Here, the taxonomy, biology, and potential production system are discussed and a potential marketing name, the Beachberry, introduced. Show more

Keywords: Camarinhas production systems, plant selection, beachberry

DOI: 10.3233/JBR-2012-033

Citation: Journal of Berry Research, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 123-133, 2012

Authors: Gargaro, A. | Monticelli, S. | Damiano, C. | Palombi, M.A.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The transmission of transgenes (uid-A and nptII) was studied in crosses between transgenic plants, with Fragaria x ananassa cultivar Teodora as the donor plant and various Fragaria species as recipient plants. GUS expression and kanamycin resistance were evaluated in embryos and in seedlings after aseptical germination, both in intra- and inter-specific crosses as demonstrated by different ploidy level. This expression in most of the T1 seedlings shows that one or more functional transgenes were transferred from T0 plants to T1 seedlings. These results, obtained in a greenhouse, confirm the possibility of genetic exchange both at the intra- …and inter-specific level, though the inter-specific hybrids seem to have reduced germination ability. These observations need to be further investigated. Show more

Keywords: Fragaria x ananassa Dutch, Fragaria vesca L., transgene expression, GUS activity, crop-wild hybrids

DOI: 10.3233/JBR-2012-037

Citation: Journal of Berry Research, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 135-142, 2012

Authors: Krüger, E. | Josuttis, M. | Nestby, R. | Toldam-Andersen, T.B. | Carlen, C. | Mezzetti, B.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The site effect of five locations from north (Stjørdal, Norway, 63°36′N) to south (Ancona, Italy, 43°31′N) was evaluated in strawberry regarding yield performance, fruit quality, length of fruit developing time from anthesis to harvest start and length of the harvest season. Cv. Elsanta was grown at all sites while cv. Korona was cultivated in north and central Europe and cv. Clery in central and south Europe. Yield was more affected by seasonal and growing conditions than by latitude. Anthesis was delayed as influenced by cultivar up to 58 days from south to north and was nearly maintained until harvest start. …Duration of fruit development was negatively related to daily mean temperature and increased with higher latitude. 29–34 days were required from anthesis to harvest start for cv. Elsanta, 29–36 for cv. Korona and 27–38 for cv. Clery. Corresponding GDD values (growing degree days; 3°C base temperature) were independent from latitude and accounted to 334–355 for cv. Elsanta, 301–385 for cv. Korona and 320–434 for cv. Clery. Daily mean temperature decreased about 2°C from south to north during anthesis to harvest start which induced a calculated 5.2 days longer fruit development period in the north. From harvest start to harvest end, GDD values varied for all cultivars between 297–402 GDD showing no influence of the latitude. However, simple summing of GDD values do not correctly describe the time of fruit development (from anthesis to the ripe fruit) for the whole fruiting period of a plant. GDDs for individually tagged flowers increased notably from the first third to the last third of the developing period due to increasing temperature as the season proceeded. The fruit quality standards dry matter, soluble solids and titratable acidity were influenced by latitude giving northern sites in general the highest values. Fruits grown at the southern sites were redder compared to those of the north. Show more

Keywords: Fragaria ananassa Duch., latitude, pre-harvest temperature, PAR, fruit development, internal fruit quality, fruit colour

DOI: 10.3233/JBR-2012-036

Citation: Journal of Berry Research, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 143-157, 2012

Authors: Widén, C. | Coleman, M.D. | Renvert, S. | Rumpunen, K.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Berries contain several bioactive compounds that can protect against oxidative stress. In this study we evaluated the protective effect of different sequential extracts (ethyl acetate, ethanol and water) of seven berry species: bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum), elderberry (Sambucus nigra), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), rose hips (Rosa sp.), sea buckthorn (Hippohae rhamnoides) and strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa). The protective effect was tested on human erythrocytes and the antioxidant capacity was also evaluated in vitro by the FRAP assay. In the erythrocyte assay all sea buckthorn extracts were superior in antioxidant effect to other berry extracts. The ethyl acetate extract of …bilberries, and the ethanol and water extracts of blackcurrants, also protected the erythrocytes from oxidation. In contrast, water extracts of rose hips, bilberries and strawberries had a pro-oxidant effect on erythrocytes. The water extract of rose hips was superior to the other berry extracts in the FRAP assay. Thus, the results of the erythrocyte assay did not correlate with the results of the FRAP assay, but provided additional insights into the potential protective effects of berry extracts against oxidative stress. Show more

Keywords: Antioxidants, FRAP, polyphenols, red blood cells, SagM

DOI: 10.3233/JBR-2012-035

Citation: Journal of Berry Research, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 159-167, 2012

Authors: Forney, Charles F. | Kalt, Wilhelmina | Jordan, Michael A. | Vinqvist-Tymchuk, Melinda R. | Fillmore, Sherry A.E.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Compositional changes that occur during fruit development affect both the organoleptic and nutritional quality of small fruit. Compositional changes in blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L) and cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton) fruit were determined at 3 maturities (white, turning and fully colored) during 2 seasons by analyzing sugar, acid, total phenolic, and total anthocyanin composition, ORAC antioxidant capacity, and fruit firmness. In blueberry fruit, the primary sugars were glucose and fructose, which increased as fruit ripened. Citric acid comprised 77 to 87% of the organic acids in blueberry fruit. In addition, quinic and malic acids comprised 4 to 11% of total acids …and small amounts of succinic, tartaric, and shikimic acids were present. Total acids declined 68% during fruit ripening. Total phenolics were greatest in white fruit and anthocyanins were greatest in blue fruit. Antioxidant capacity declined as fruit ripened from white to turning. Fruit firmness decreased about 80% as fruit ripened. In cranberry fruit, sugar concentration increased slightly as fruit ripened with glucose comprising about 80% of the total sugars. Acid content decreased 22% during ripening primarily due to a decline in citric acid. Quinic and malic acids increased slightly during ripening. Total anthocyanins increased as color developed, while total phenolics and antioxidant capacity remained relatively constant. In contrast to blueberries, red cranberry fruit were firmer than white or turning fruit. Show more

Keywords: Ripeness, sugars, acids, phenolics, anthocyanins, antioxidant capacity, vaccinium

DOI: 10.3233/JBR-2012-034

Citation: Journal of Berry Research, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 169-177, 2012