Journal of Berry Research

Given the growing interest in functional foods, blueberry fermentation with probiotics is being explored as a method to enhance the health benefits associated with blueberries. This systematic review investigates the modulatory effects of blueberry fermentation on probiotic growth dynamics and metabolism. In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, identifying forty-three relevant studies published up to August 2025. The studies were primarily in vitro experiments, and the findings indicate that blueberry fermentation significantly enhances the growth and viability of various probiotic strains. The fermentation processes not only promoted probiotic proliferation but also enhanced the bioavailability of phenolic compounds, including protocatechuic acid, gallic acid, catechol, and syringic acid, thereby improving antioxidant activity. Notably, different probiotic strains exhibited distinct growth responses depending on their metabolic capabilities and the specific blueberry components utilised, such as malvidin-3-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, rutin, glycosylated phenolic compounds, glucose, fructose and tannins. During fermentation, these substrates were metabolized to produce organic acids, including lactic, acetic, and citric acids, as well as short-chain fatty acids such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate. The antioxidant activity of blueberries was further enhanced through fermentation, primarily due to the biotransformation of polyphenols such as gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, and catechol into metabolites with greater antioxidant potential. Overall, the fermentation of blueberries with probiotics represents a promising strategy for developing functional foods aimed at promoting gut health and improving overall human well-being.

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Given the recent water scarcity crisis in Iran and worldwide, the implementation of management practices such as Partial Root-zone Drying (PRD) is essential to optimize water consumption in the agricultural sector. To investigate the effect of PRD on yield, fruit quality, and water use efficiency (WUE), a study was conducted over two consecutive years (2023–2024) on 8-year-old grapevines in a trellis vineyard located in Malayer (Hamedan province, Iran). A randomized complete block design was used with two irrigation regimes (Control; irrigating both sides and PRD; alternately irrigating one side of the vine at each time)×five commercial cultivars (‘Bidaneh Sefid’, ‘Shahani Peykani’, ‘Rasha’, ‘Askari’, and ‘Fakhri’). The results showed that PRD significantly increased leaf abscisic acid concentration (38.1–77.8%) and water use efficiency (40.2–92.1%), and significantly decreased berry length (7.9–12.6%), berry diameter (6.6–11.5%), titratable acidity (6.2–10.4%), berry sugar content (5.6–12%), vegetative growth (11.3–28%), chlorophyll index (6.9–36.9%), leaf relative water content (6.6–8.6%), midday leaf water potential (5.5–6.8%), berry weight (3.8–27%), cluster weight (7.9–21.9%), vine yield (7.3–29.9%) and yield index (3.9–29.8%) compared to the control. PRD irrigation achieved a 50% reduction in water use while the highest yield reduction (in ‘Askari’ cultivar) was 29.9%, demonstrating a substantial water-saving potential with a variable yield cost that was cultivar-specific. Therefore, considering the improvement in WUE (40.2–92.1%), applying deficit irrigation by the PRD method is recommended as a water-saving strategy for vineyards, with cultivar selection being a critical factor for success.

Skin cancer represents a major public health concern due to high global incidence and mortality rates. Oxidative stress induced by ultraviolet radiation plays a central role in skin carcinogenesis. Natural compounds with chemopreventive properties, such as those derived from Vaccinium meridionale Swartz, have attracted attention for their antioxidant potential. Consequently, this study evaluated the protective effect of V. meridionale against Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)-induced skin damage in HaCaT keratinocytes. To this end, cells were treated with a water–ethanol extract (0.25–10.0 mg/mL) for 24 h, followed by hydrogen peroxide exposure. Assays assessing cell viability, ROS levels, DNA damage, and cell cycle progression were performed. Additionally, in silico analyses examined interactions between phenolic compounds and proteins involved in oxidative stress regulation, including antioxidant and pro-oxidant targets. Results showed that the extract reduced both ROS accumulation and DNA damage and that cyanidin-3-glucoside may inhibit the pro-oxidant enzyme nitric oxide synthase-2 (NOS2). These findings demonstrate the antioxidant and genoprotective activity of V. meridionale, supporting its potential role in skin cancer prevention.

Pollination and fertilization are critical determinants of fruit set and quality in raspberry. To optimize cross-breeding strategies and cultivation practices for raspberry, this study investigated key factors influencing pollination efficiency, including stigma receptivity and pollen tube growth dynamics. Results indicated that raspberry exhibited a wet stigma morphology with a solid-style structure containing a guiding tissue. Maximum stigma receptivity was observed at the petal opening stage. Pollen germination on the stigma initiated within 4 h post-pollination, with pollen tubes reaching the ovary base by 12 h, culminating in successful double fertilization. Embryo sac activity remained elevated throughout the first 48 h post-pollination, achieving an exceptional fruit set rate exceeding 80%.