Abstract
Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) have gained much attention worldwide because of their potential health benefits and economic importance. Genetic diversity was estimated in blueberry hybrids, wild clones and cultivars by their antioxidant efficacy, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and express sequence tag–simple sequence repeat (SSR) (EST–SSR), genomic (G)–SSR and express sequence tag–polymerase chain reaction (EST–PCR) markers. Wide diversity existed among the genotypes for antioxidant properties, with the highest variation for DPPH radical scavenging activity (20-fold), followed by the contents of total flavonoids (16-fold) and phenolics (3.8-fold). Although a group of 11 hybrids generated the maximum diversity for antioxidant activity (15-fold), wild clones collected from Quebec, Canada, had the maximum variation for total phenolic (2.8-fold) and flavonoid contents (6.9-fold). Extensive genetic diversity was evident from Shannon’s index (0.34 for EST–SSRs, 0.29 for G–SSR, 0.26 for EST–PCR) and expected heterozygosity (0.23 for EST–SSR, 0.19 for G–SSR, 0.16 for EST–PCR). STRUCTURE analysis separated the genotypes into three groups, which were in agreement with principal coordinate and neighbour-joining analyses. Molecular variance suggested 19% variation among groups and 81% among genotypes within the groups. Clustering based on biochemical data and molecular analysis did not coincide, indicating a random distribution of loci in the blueberry genome, conferring antioxidant properties. However, the stepwise multiple regression analysis (SMRA) revealed that 17 EST–SSR, G–SSR and EST–PCR markers were associated with antioxidant properties. The study is valuable to breeding and germplasm conservation programs.
Highlights
Blueberry is an economically and medicinally high-value crop that belongs to the genus Vaccinium L., which contains about 400–500 species native to countries all over the world except Antarctica and Australia [1,2]
The objective of the present study is to examine the antioxidant properties, genetic diversity and relationship between antioxidant properties and molecular diversity in two groups of selected hybrids developed under an on-going blueberry genetic enhancement program, four groups of lowbush blueberry wild clones and a group of blueberry cultivars
stepwise multiple regression analysis (SMRA) identified 17 alleles associated with various biochemical components
Summary
Blueberry is an economically and medicinally high-value crop that belongs to the genus Vaccinium L., which contains about 400–500 species native to countries all over the world except Antarctica and Australia [1,2]. The five major groups of blueberries grown commercially include (1) lowbush (V. angustifolium Ait.; 2n = 4x = 48), (2) highbush (V. corymbosum L.; 2n = 4x = 48), (3) half-high (the product of hybridization between highbush and lowbush blueberries), (4) southern highbush (hybrids between V. corymbosum and mostly V. darrowi Camp and/or V. ashei Reade) and (5) Rabbiteye Blueberries are consumed fresh or in other commercially processed forms mainly for their high antioxidant activity, which fight off harmful radicals in the body. The high antioxidation activity is due to high concentrations of anthocyanins, flavonoids and phenolic acids. These phenolic compounds are linked to an improvement of night vision, prevention of macular degeneration, anticancerous activity and reduction in heart disease [4,5]. The clinical benefits of blueberry are limited to its fruits; blueberry leaves have been shown to possess antidiabetic [6] and antimicrobial activities [7] and have been used as a traditional remedy for the treatment of diabetic symptoms [8,9]
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