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BIONÆR-Bionæringsprogram

High quality cultivars of strawberry and raspberry for processing and fresh market

Awarded: NOK 6.8 mill.

The aim of the project «High quality cultivars of strawberry and raspberry for processing and fresh market» was to increase the competitive advantage for Norwegian berry growers, jam industry and wholesalers through new cultivars suited for jam and fresh market. It was a whole chain project with 17 partners, representing research, breeding, cultivar testing, production of certified plant material, berry producers, extension service, jam industry and fresh market wholesalers. To find the linkage between genotype and phenotype, especially related to colour, we extracted and sequenced RNA from berries of three ripening stages of four raspberry cultivars with differing colours and colour development. The RNA sequences were aligned by a computer programme and checked against available databases. The aim was to find what the different RNA strings coded for. We had special interest in genes coding for enzymes in the flavonoid biosynthesis, where the colour components in raspberry are produced. Around 200 RNA sequences, including variants, belonged to this category. We have concentrated on the enzyme phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, and there seem to be two genes coding for this enzyme in raspberry. In these genes, we have identified several variants that can be of use for breeding. The same berries were analysed for content of a range of metabolites. This was done partly by targeted analysis looking at polyphenols, and partly by untargeted analysis to find differences between cultivars and development stages also for other metabolites. The content of polyphenols differed between cultivar and development stage, and this can affect sensory as well as nutritional quality. Metabolic data and RNA data were aligned through co-expression network to find genes with similar expression profile. Such analysis can identify genes having similar function, being involved in the same processes, and / or are part of the same regulatory system. Several gene clusters showing high covariation with these metabolites, have been identified. The genome of Graminor raspberry cultivar Anitra has been sequenced. To anchor the 3800 small parts (contigs) from sequencing to chromosomes (linkage groups), we have established a F1 population with Anitra as one parent. These F1 individuals are genotyped and used in the work on systemizing these contigs. We established a field trial with 10 strawberry cultivars and harvested berry samples at three ripening stages. These berries were analysed for content of a range of metabolites. Fully ripe berries had more anthocyanins and cinnamic acid derivates, but less ellagitannins. Different cultivars had different metabolite profiles. Anthocyanins and other polyphenols are analysed in berries from more than 150 seedlings from crosses between strawberry cultivars Senga Sengana and Saga, Marlate or Carisma. Results show that anthocyanin content in F1 families depend on content of parents. These F1 families are also genotyped, and we have identified genetic markers connected to the variation in anthocyanin content of strawberry. Several field trials have been established by growers for testing 13 cultivars and selections of strawberry and raspberry. The jam industry partners have tested 24 cultivars and selections of strawberry and raspberry. The jam was evaluated after three-month storage and analysed for colour and anthocyanin content. One Graminor selection of strawberry was very promising for jam production, with extraordinary good and stable colour, as well as a balanced and good strawberry flavour. A new Graminor raspberry selection is also promising for jam production, with good colour and raspberry flavour. Nofima has developed colour charts for judgement of colour of strawberry and raspberry jam. We have developed a system for testing potential of cultivars for the fresh market, where the sensory panel of BAMA (wholesaler) evaluates cultivars by harvest and after four days in cold store. Berries from the same samples are analysed for content of components important for sensory quality. We have evaluated 20 cultivars and selections of strawberry and raspberry. Several Graminor cultivars and selections in both strawberry and raspberry were found to be promising for the fresh market, e.g. the strawberry cultivars Nobel and Saga and raspberry cultivars Agat and Ninni. The sensory panel of Nofima made a descriptive sensory evaluation of eight strawberry cultivars and eight raspberry cultivars, to develop a calibration tool for sensory evaluation of cultivars for fresh market use. The evaluated raspberry cultivars were also analysed for content of volatile compounds (aroma components) and other metabolites and quality parameters. Correlation was found between characters measured by chemical and sensory analysis. Sensory experienced sweet taste was e.g. well predicted by the ratio between content of sugars and acids in raspberries.

Det er gjennom prosjektet etablert et tett samarbeid og økt forståelse mellom aktører i verdikjeda, fra sortsutvikler via forsking, sortsprøving, rådgiving, produksjon av rent plantemateriale og dyrkerorganisasjoner til bærmottak, konservesindustri og grossist for friskkonsum. Det er etablert metoder og rutiner for effektiv utprøving av sortskandidater i dyrking, hos industri og til friskkonsum. Det er etablert økt kunnskap om sortsvariasjon i innholdsstoffer og den genetiske bakgrunnen for dette, med vekt på farge (anthocyaniner). Det er også studert sammenhenger mellom innholdsstoff og sensorisk kvalitet. Det er utviklet molekylære verktøy og andre verktøy som vil bidra til en mer effektiv og målretta sortsutvikling og sortsprøving. Det er i prosjektperioden tatt fram flere nye sorter i jordbær og bringebær, der resultat fra prosjektet har utgjort en vesentlig del av beslutningsgrunnlaget for lanseringen. De nye sortene gir grunnlag for økt konkurransekraft hos norsk bærnæring.

A competitive Norwegian berry production depends on continuous access to the best cultivars available at any time. The basic idea of this new project is a targeted development of berry cultivars for the fresh market and the industry, in a cooperation proj ect with partners from the whole value chain (in broad sense). Development of new cultivars is a time consuming process, which can be made more efficient through the use of modern molecular breeding tools. Through this project, molecular markers will be d eveloped for some key traits for berry cultivars for processing and fresh market. New knowledge will be generated on relationships between metabolites and key quality traits in berries and the genetic background for the expressed traits. A prediction mode l will be made for berry product quality based on molecular markers, metabolites and quality of the berries. When new cultivars are available, an efficient system for testing is important in order to choose the right cultivar and put it into production, and to reduce the risk of economic losses by large scale planting of not properly tested cultivars that turn out to be unsuccessful. Based on already established cooperation, this project will build an improved whole-chain structure for cost effective tes ting of strawberry and raspberry cultivars.

Publications from Cristin

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Funding scheme:

BIONÆR-Bionæringsprogram