Biotechnological plant breeding applied to purple blackberries

Abstract

The current project addresses the great potential of S. caripense Dunal (Tzimbalo) for intraspecific breeding and interspecific gene flow towards the related commercial crop S. muricatum Aiton (Pepino) to develop fruits with improved antioxidants, flavor, and fruit weight. This study aims to determine the interaction between genotype x altitude and identify significant differences between treatments according to fruit weight. Tzimbalo varieties GenPurpura, Gennbiotz, and GenDulce, were used. Fruit weight was analyzed using a factorial experiment under a completely randomized design (CRD). The interaction Var. x m.a.s.l. was significant (mean ± SE), Gennbiotz:a1 (4.88 g ± 0.44; C) and GenDulce:a2 (4.38 g ± 0.25; BC), followed by GenPurpura:a1 (3.33 g ± 0.36; AB); also the principal effect Var. was significant, Gennbiotz (3.93 g ± 0.23; B) and GenDulce (3.64 g ± 0.25; B), followed by GenPurpura (2.90 g ± 0.19; A). These results demonstrate distinctness, uniformity, and stability (DUS) of at least one tzimbalo variety. Fruit weight and other characteristics are relevant to improve quality and commercial potential. They are used to develop biofortified beer, jam, ice cream, and plant tissue culture media with sucrose and vitamins to strengthen biotechnological production in Cotopaxi-Ecuador. Keywords: factorial experiment; tzimbalo varieties; fruit quality; genotype; agri-biotechnology.