Journal of Berry Research

Understanding the genetics of flowering in the strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa) will aid in the development of breeding strategies.

To search for quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with remontancy and weeks of flowering in the strawberry.

Previously collected phenotypic data from two non-remontant ‘Honeoye’×remontant ‘Tribute’ strawberry populations and simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers were used to search for QTL associated with repeat flowering, weeks of flowering and runner production, as well as the ability to produce flowers and runners at 17, 20 and 23°C.

As was discovered in other studies, we found a major QTL that regulated remontancy and weeks of flowering on homeologous linkage group IV of ‘Tribute’. This QTL also had a negative effect on runner production and a positive influence on flower production under high temperatures. A number of additional QTL were discovered that significantly (LOD >3.0) influenced flower and runner production.

Remontancy/non-remontancy is controlled by a major gene/locus and several minor modifying ones.

Blueberry fruit available in the market comes from cultivars that have been selected for specific traits and not necessarily for high concentrations of health-promoting phytochemicals in the fruit.

To identify and quantify the total and individual phenolic components and other quality traits from a combination of cultivars from two Vaccinium species (V. corymbosum and V. virgatum). The cultivar combination provided a continuous and extended fruit harvest.

Fruit samples were collected from cultivars growing in a randomized complete block design. The phenolic components were assessed on fruit extracts, the fruit weight and firmness were assessed on fresh fruit and the rest of the traits were assessed on fruit juice.

For most traits the differences between Vaccinium species and cultivars were considerable. Strong and positive correlations were found between phenolic components and between fruit traits. For each cultivar the majority of the traits analysed in this work from a single year were highly correlated to the average across the three years of evaluation. Assessing traits from a single year of data should be mostly reliable for individual cultivars.

The combination of cultivars in this study was designed to offer the widest possible harvest window; however, it gives high variation in fruit quality.

Table grape is a non-climacteric berry, sensitive to water loss and gray mold during postharvest storage.

To assess the effect of passive and active modified atmosphere packaging on quality parameters of minimally processed table grapes.

‘Red Globe’ minimally processed table grapes were dipped in a sodium hypochlorite solution and irradiated with ultraviolet-C, before being packaged in a rigid polypropylene boxes, sealed with a micro perforated polypropylene film (PP) or a continuous polyethylene film, with: a) 5% O₂ + 15% CO₂ + 80% N (PET1); b) 20% CO₂ + air (PET2). Samples were stored at 5°C for 21 days plus and additional 6-day period at 20°C to simulate shelf-life.

No chemical and sensory changes during storage occurred in fruit sealed in PP packages. The high in-package CO₂ partial pressure which increased in PET1 and PET2 combined with the reduced concentration of O₂, increased decay incidence, stimulated anaerobic respiration, hastened soluble sugars degradation, produced higher weight loss and altered sensory quality.

Quality of minimally processed ‘Red Globe’ was better maintained in PP packaging where air-composition was not changed than in PET1 and PET2 where toxic levels of CO₂ and reduced tension of O₂ hastened quality loss and increased decay incidence.

Strawberries are widely consumed in the world and an important source of health-promoting compounds, such as polyphenols. The nutritional quality as well as the phytochemical composition of strawberry fruits are known to be strongly influenced by genetic, environmental factors, ripeness at harvest, and storage conditions.

The nutritional quality and the phytochemical content of two new strawberry cultivars, namely ‘Fuentepina’ and ‘Amiga’, were evaluated. These novel cultivars were compared with ‘Camarosa’ and ‘Candonga’, the two most extended cultivars in Spain, and with ‘Primoris’, an emerging one.

The influence of genotype, stage of ripening and season on different properties as colour, firmness, acidity, soluble solids content, antioxidant capacity, and polyphenols profile were evaluated.

Results showed significant effects of genotype, stage of ripening and season on the majority of the measured parameters. Thirty nine phenolic compounds were tentatively identified. Anthocyanins were the most abundant class of polyphenols in ‘Amiga’, ‘Candonga’, ‘Camarosa’ and ‘Primoris’ cultivars while more flavan-3-ols were recorded in ‘Fuentepina’.

‘Fuentepina’ strawberries stand out for their pleasant flavour as a result of a high sugar/acid ratio and ‘Amiga’ strawberries may offer potential as a new promising cultivar due to its high firmness, good sugar/acid ratio and high content of phytochemicals.

A considerable body of evidence has associated the consumption of blueberries to health-related benefits, mainly because of their anthocyanin content. The extraction of these compounds could contribute to their application in functional foods and value-added products.

In this study, we investigated the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of anthocyanins from lowbush blueberries in a bench-scale system.

Two statistical design methods, namely full factorial and Box-Behnken, were used for the screening and optimization of the variables that significantly affect the UAE of anthocyanins. Extraction temperature, time, solvent concentration (acidified ethanol), and solvent to solid ratio were selected to determine higher anthocyanin extraction (assessed by the pH-differential method).

When evaluated by response surface methodology, solvent to solid ratio and solvent concentration had a significant effect on UAE followed by ultrasound bath temperature. The mathematical model indicated that the highest anthocyanin extraction would be obtained with 60% acidified ethanol, solvent to solid ratio of 50 mL/g, at 65°C for 11.5 min.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction was shown to be an effective method of extracting total anthocyanins from Nova Scotia lowbush blueberries. A statistical model to predict optimum conditions for extraction was developed using a Box Behnken design.