Blackberry Cultivars Research Articles

Ultrasound and Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.) Pomace: Analysis of Chemical Properties and Anticancer Activity

Blackberries are seasonal berries that are processed into various products leaving a large amount of residues after processing, and therefore the most effective ways of utilising the residues need to be evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different extraction methods on the chemical content of blackberry pomace extracts from different cultivars and their effect on the viability of the Caco-2 colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line and CCD-18Co normal colon fibroblast cancer cells. Blackberry pomace from berries of the cultivars ‘Polar’, ‘Orkan’, and ‘Brzezina’ was extracted by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and a combination of these two extraction methods (MAE+UAE). The phenolic profile and the amount of organic acids and sugars were detected by HPLC. The spectrophotometric method was used to determine the amount of total phenolics, total flavonoids, and total anthocyanins. The cytotoxicity of the extracts was measured by the MTT assay. The chemical content of the extracts depends on the blackberry cultivar, the extraction method, and its interaction. Only the DPPH antioxidant activity did not depend on these factors and had no statistically significant differences between the different extracts. The extracts at a concentration of 5.0% increased the growth of both cancer cells, while the extracts at 1% and 2.5%, depending on the cultivar, reduced the growth of these cells. The MAE and UAE extracts of the ‘Orkan’ cultivar at concentrations of 1%, 1.5%, 2%, and 2.5% best inhibited the viability of Caco-2 cells. The extracts inhibited the growth of the Caco-2 cell line better than CCD-18Co normal colon fibroblasts.

Supercritical CO2 and Conventional Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Different Cultivars of Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.) Pomace

The main objective of this work was to extract bioactive compounds from different cultivars of blackberry pomace using conventional Soxhlet and supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) extraction methods. For Soxhlet extraction, two different solvents, ethanol and n-hexane, were used. Qualitative and quantitative composition of fatty acids was determined by GC, carotenoids and chlorophylls by HPLC, and volatile organic compounds were identified with an e-nose based on GC. The yield of the extract was influenced by the extraction, while the qualitative content of the extracts was also dependent on the cultivar. While there were no differences in the types of fatty acids extracted, their content varied significantly depending on the cultivar, extraction method, and their interaction. The results showed that linoleic acid (C18:2), oleic acid (C18:1), and α-linolenic acid (C18:3) were the most prevalent in all cultivars of blackberry pomace extracts. The linoleic acid content varied from 33.33 to 64.77% depending on the variety, and the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 varied from 3.17% to 5.71%. Significantly higher quantities of carotenoids and chlorophylls were obtained in Soxhlet extraction with n-hexane in all extracts. The major carotenoid in the ‘Orkan’ and ‘Polar’ extracts was lutein, while in the ‘Brzezina’ extract, it was β-carotene. The extraction method has a significant impact on the flavor profile of the extracts.

Identification and characterization of HCT genes in blackberry: Overexpression of RuHCT1 enhances anthocyanin contents

Emerging as a new generation of economic fruit, blackberries are rich in flavonoids and anthocyanins. Acylation can change the pharmacological activity and structural stability of anthocyanins and is of great significance to plant growth and secondary metabolism. In this study, based on the transcriptome data of the blackberry fruit, five blackberry hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HCT) genes were screened and identified, all of which belong to the BAHD superfamily. Among them, RuHCT1, RuHCT2 and RuHCT3 have similar tertiary structures and functions. RuHCT1, the gene with the largest difference in expression between immature and mature blackberry fruits, was selected for overexpression research. The results showed that the content of anthocyanin in the leaves of transgenic plants was significantly increased, while the content of secondary metabolites such as lignan and chlorogenic acid was decreased. Moreover, the expression levels of the NtCCOMT, NtCHS and NtCYP98A genes in transgenic tobacco were lower than those in nontransgenic plants. In conclusion, RuHCT1 may be an important structural gene regulating anthocyanin synthesis in blackberry. RuHCT1 may also inhibit lignan synthesis and affect the expression of other key structural genes. This study provides a theoretical reference regarding the biosynthesis and regulatory mechanisms of anthocyanins in blackberry, contributing to the breeding of new blackberry cultivars with high anthocyanin content.

Nutrient accumulations and efficiencies for maximum blackberry fruit production

Blackberry is grown in a wide range of soil pH, and it is known that the adequacy of soil pH is essential for plants to express their maximum nutritional efficiencies and, consequently, reach their maximum productive potential. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the nutritional accumulations and efficiencies for maximum fruit production. The experiment under greenhouse conditions was carried out in a randomized block design followed by a 4 × 2 × 4 factorial scheme with three repetitions. The evaluated factors were four blackberry cultivars (Tupy, Brazos, Guarani, and Xavante) grown in two types of acidic soils (Typical Hapludox [TH] and Rhodic Hapludox [RH]) to which four rates of dolomitic limestone (0, 1.5, 3.0, and 6.0 Mg ha−1) were applied. Fruit production and nutrient accumulation in the fruits, leaves, stems, and roots of the plants were evaluated, as well as the nutritional efficiency of each cultivar. The blackberry cultivar Tupy has been the most productive, independent of the liming rate. Blackberry cultivars have shown differences in nutrient accumulation and efficiencies for maximum fruit production, and they also have distinct nutritional requirements.

Assessment of photosynthetic capacity of two blackberry cultivars subjected to salt stress by the JIP fluorescence test

BACKGROUND: Salt stress has recently emerged as one of the most significant abiotic stresses with negative impact on crop production. Photosynthesis is a vital biochemical process in plants, very sensitive to environmental constraints, including salt stress. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of salt stress on photosystem II in the leaves of blackberry cultivars (Rubus fructicosus L.). METHODS: Two blackberry cultivars (Thornfree and Boysen) were exposed to salt stress (20, 40, and 60 mM NaCl) for 28 days in in vitro culture. The photosynthetic activity was evaluated by probing chlorophyll a fluorescence (JIP test) and photosynthetic pigments. RESULTS: The maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm), performance indexes (PIABS and PItotal), and photosynthetic driving force (DFABS) were greatly affected by salt stress in the leaves of Boysen cultivar. Lower photosynthetic efficiency was confirmed by the increased values of absorption flux per RC (ABS/RC), trapping flux per PSII RC (TR0/RC), dissipation flux per RC (DI0/RC), decreased values of chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, disruption in the interaction between the light-harvesting complex and the core proteins of PSII, as well as disruption of the oxygen-evolving complex. CONCLUSIONS: The provided informations suggest that the photosynthetic apparatus of Thornfree cultivar was found to be more tolerant to salt stress compared to Boysen.

Assessment of Six Blackberry Cultivars Using a Combination of Metabolomics, Biological Activity, and Network Pharmacology Approaches.

Blackberries have gained considerable attention due to their high antioxidant content and potential health benefits. This study compared the metabolite profiles of six blackberry cultivars and investigated their biological activities. The metabolites extracted from blackberries were analyzed using metabolomics, and their biological activities and mechanisms were confirmed using in vitro models and network pharmacology. Among the cultivars examined, "Kiowa" ripe berries exhibited the highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. These effects were primarily attributed to the accumulation of flavonoids (quercitrin and luteolin) and anthocyanin (cyanidin 3-O-glucoside) in the phenylpropanoid pathway. Furthermore, our research identified 13 blackberry metabolites that interacted with 31 genes, including AKT1, CASP3, JUN, MAPK8, NOS3, NQO1, and HMOX1 which play roles in reducing oxidative stress, protecting cells from damage, and suppressing inflammation. These findings suggest that blackberry metabolites, such as quercitrin, luteolin, and cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, may exert therapeutic effects by modulating specific genes and pathways associated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses. This research is promising not only for plant breeders but also for those interested in harnessing the health-promoting properties of blackberries.

Assessment of different factors to induce the adventitious regeneration in two blackberry cultivars starting from leaf and petiole explants

Assessment of different factors to induce the adventitious regeneration in two blackberry cultivars starting from leaf and petiole explants

Evaluation process of new raspberry and blackberry cultivars for the Belgian market at pcfruit

Evaluation process of new raspberry and blackberry cultivars for the Belgian market at pcfruit

Assessing the performance of blackberry cultivars in central Alabama, southern USA

Assessing the performance of blackberry cultivars in central Alabama, southern USA

Low-temperature survival of blackberry cultivars grown in the midwestern United States

Low-temperature survival of blackberry cultivars grown in the midwestern United States

Phenology, production, and fruit quality of blackberry cultivars under greenhouse in southern Brazil

Knowing the phenology, production, and fruit quality of blackberry cultivars grown in greenhouses enables growers to develop and/or improve assertive orchard management. The aim of this study was to investigate whether phenology, production, and fruit quality differ among blackberry cultivars grown under greenhouse. The treatments were four blackberry cultivars (‘BRS Cainguá’, ‘BRS Tupy’, ‘BRS Xavante’, and ‘BRS Xingu’), arranged in a randomized block design, with four replications and three plants per plot. Phenology, production, and fruit quality were assessed. ‘BRS Xingu’ had an earlier start than all the phenological stages assessed, proving to be the earliest to achieve fruit harvest stage. ‘BRS Cainguá’ was the latest to harvest. ‘BRS Xingu’ showed the highest total production values, followed by ‘BRS Cainguá’, with the largest longitudinal diameter, and ‘BRS Tupy’, with the largest transverse diameter. Fruit quality was not influenced by the cultivars. In conclusion, the four blackberry cultivars differ in terms of phenology and fruit production potential under greenhouse. This allows production to be staggered around 15 days in terms of the start and end of the harvest.

Chlorophyll a fluorescence and phytochemical response in blackberry species (Rubus sp) cultivated in the high tropics

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of chlorophyll fluorescence activity is a useful tool for rapid and effective assessments of the effect of abiotic factors on the physiology of different crops. In Rubus, this type of measurements describes tolerance to high temperatures, sensitivity to heat and morphological alterations in flowering and chlorophyll content, as a result of plant stress. OBJECTIVE: The present research estimated chlorophyll fluorescence and the presence of some phenolic compounds in the leaves of three cultivars of blackberry ( Rubus sp.) established in the central region of Colombia, under conditions of open air between 2400 and 2800 masl. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was done through the measurement of chlorophyll a (Junior-PAM II modulated fluorometer), the quantification of phenolic compounds (Folin Ciocalteu), the determination of antioxidant capacity (DPPH and ABTS) and the study of phenolic profiles (UHPLC) in leaves of three blackberry cultivars. RESULTS: Cultivars R. alutaceus (0.66), R. glaucus (0.73) and R. alpinus (0.76), presented values lower than the optimum (0.83), for the parameter F v/ F m. In addition, the direct relationships between the parameters that define the behavior of PSII and the accumulation of different polyphenols were described. Reference was also made to the content of phenolic compounds (ranging from 125 to 150 mg GA g–1 dw), which did not show significant statistical differences. The heat map and principal component analysis show the close relationship between the parameters that characterize the functioning of PSII and the accumulation of phenolic compounds, as a mechanism of adaptation to the adverse conditions of the blackberry cultivars studied. CONCLUSIONS: The results reveal that the leaves of the Rubus studied could be a source of functional ingredients for use in the cosmetic, nutraceutical and food industries and epigallocatechin was attributed the greatest responsibility for the antioxidant capacity.

Níveis de acidez do solo para recomendação de calagem e aumento de produção da amora-preta

Abstract The objective of this work was to determine the acidity levels to obtain adequate soil chemical attributes for the maximum fruit yield of blackberry trees grown in acidic soils subjected to increasing limestone rates. The BRS Tupy, Brazos, Guarani, and BRS Xavante blackberry cultivars were evaluated on the Typic Hapludox (LVdf) and Rhodic Hapludox (LVd) soils, to which four rates of dolomitic limestone were applied (0, 1.5, 3.0, and 6.0 Mg ha-1). The effect of liming on soil chemical attributes, in a 2×4 factorial arrangement (soils and limestone rates), as well as leaf nutrient content and fruit yield, in a 2×4×4 factorial arrangement (soils, limestone rates, and cultivars), were evaluated. The maximum fruit yield was obtained with 3.3 Mg ha-1 dolomitic limestone. The blackberry cultivars showed a high demand for Ca, Mg, and base saturation and a low tolerance to aluminum in the soils. From 3.3 Mg ha-1 dolomitic limestone, the maximum fruit yield of blackberry trees grown in acidic soils is obtained with pH 5.6, maximum tolerated aluminum saturation of 6%, Ca and Mg concentration of 45.3 mmolc kg-1, and base saturation of 48.3%.

ShinyFruit: interactive fruit phenotyping software and its application in blackberry.

Horticultural plant breeding programs often demand large volumes of phenotypic data to capture visual variation in quality of harvested products. Increasing the throughput potential of phenomic pipelines enables breeders to consider data-hungry molecular breeding strategies such as genome-wide association studies and genomic selection. We present an R-based web application called ShinyFruit for image-based phenotyping of size, shape, and color-related qualities in fruits and vegetables. Here, we have demonstrated one potential application for ShinyFruit by comparing its estimates of fruit length, width, and red drupelet reversion (RDR) with ImageJ and analogous manual phenotyping techniques in a population of blackberry cultivars and breeding selections from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Fruit Breeding Program. ShinyFruit results shared a strong positive correlation with manual measurements for blackberry length (r = 0.96) and ImageJ estimates of RDR (r = 0.96) and significant, albeit weaker, correlations with manual RDR estimation methods (r = 0.62 - 0.70). Neither phenotyping method detected genotypic differences in blackberry fruit width, suggesting that this trait is unlikely to be heritable in the population observed. It is likely that implementing a treatment to promote RDR expression in future studies might strengthen the documented correlation between phenotyping methods by maximizing genotypic variance. Even so, our analysis has suggested that ShinyFruit provides a viable, open-source solution to efficient phenotyping of size and color in blackberry fruit. The ability for users to adjust analysis settings should also extend its utility to a wide range of fruits and vegetables.

Rhizobacteria Increases Growth and Development of Blackberry Saplings

In this study, the effects of rhizobacteria on vegetative growth of Chester Thornless blackberry cultivars saplings were investigated. In this context, plant height, shoot number, stem diameter, average shoot length, root length, plant fresh and dry weight, root fresh and dry weight, IAA, ABA, GA, cytokinin, zeatin hormones and N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, Na nutrients were investigated. According to the evaluations, the highest plant fresh and dry weights and root fresh and dry weights were obtained from the SK50 bacteria strain. It was determined that plant height, stem diameter, average shoot length and root length maximum increased with SK-39 strain. Bacteria applications increased the IAA, GA, cytokinin and zeatin contents and decreased the ABA content in the leaves. With bacteria applications, leaf N, P, K, Ca, S, Zn, Cu and Na contents increased compared to control. According to the results of the research, it can be recommended to use Herbaspirillum huttiense SK-39, Achromobacter xylosoxidans denitrificans SK-50, Pantoea agglomerans GC subgroup SY-43 and Microbacterium ester aromaticum SY-48 bacteria strains in order to promote growth and development in the cultivation of blackberry cultivars.

Shoot Dieback in Thornless Blackberries in Northern Spain Caused by Diaporthe rudis and Gnomoniopsis idaeicola

A cane disease of a non-commercial thornless blackberry cultivar (genus Rubus, subgenus Rubus Watson) obtained in a breeding program was observed in May 2021 in northern Spain during a field evaluation. Symptoms of the disease appeared in spring and firstly consisted of dark-brown lesions in the petioles, tips, and intermediate zones of the canes, finally causing the leaves, canes, and lateral shoots to die. Two strains were recovered from infected canes and identified by morphological characteristics and multigene analysis as Gnomoniopsis idaeicola (LPPAF-977) and Diaporthe rudis (LPPAF-981). Pathogenicity tests showed that both fungi caused shoot dieback when artificially inoculated, reproducing the symptoms originally observed. Moreover, tissue necrosis was enhanced when Diaporthe rudis and Gnomoniopsis idaeicola were co-inoculated. This is the first report of Diaporthe rudis and Gnomoniopsis idaeicola causing a potentially serious disease to blackberries in Spain.

Screening and Evaluation of Excellent Blackberry Cultivars and Strains Based on Nutritional Quality, Antioxidant Properties, and Genetic Diversity.

To screen and evaluate excellent blackberry cultivars and strains, 17 indexes of plant growth and fruit horticultural and nutritional characteristics were measured, 20 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were analyzed, the fingerprints of 23 blackberry cultivars and strains were constructed, and the processing characteristics of 10 excellent cultivars and strains were evaluated. The results showed that 'Chester' and 'Shuofeng' had the highest plant yield (6.5 kg per plant), of which the 'Chester' fruit also had the highest hardness (2.78 kg/cm2). 'Kiowa' had the highest single fruit weight (10.43 g). '10-5n-2' had the highest total anthocyanin content (225.4 mg/100 g FW) and total polyphenol content (3.24 mg/g FW), but a low plant yield. These results suggest that 'Shuofeng' and 'Chester' are the top two blackberry cultivars planted in Nanjing, with the best growth and comprehensive quality. Moreover, a total of 119 alleles were detected with an average number of 6 alleles per locus. The polymorphism information content (PIC) was 0.374~0.844, with an average of 0.739, indicating a high genetic diversity among the 23 blackberry cultivars and strains. This study provides insight into the plant growth, fruit characteristics and genetic diversity of the 23 blackberry cultivars and strains, and is thus conducive to the protection and utilization of blackberry cultivars and strains.

The Use of Wheat Starch as Gelling Agent for In Vitro Proliferation of Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.) Cultivars and the Evaluation of Genetic Fidelity after Repeated Subcultures

Micropropagation has an important role in the large-scale production of blackberry plant material, given the high proliferation rates of this species. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the proliferative capacity of blackberry grown in vitro on wheat starch-gelled culture medium compared to classical agar-gelled medium and to assess the genetic fidelity between the proliferated shoots in starch-gelled culture medium and their mother plants. Six blackberry varieties (‘Čačanska Bestrna’, ‘Chester Thornless’, ‘Driscoll’s Victoria’, ‘Loch Ness’, ‘Polar’, and ‘Karaka Black’) were tested. For the in vitro shoots proliferation, Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.5 mg dm−3 6-benzyladenine (BA) was used. The conventional medium was gelled with 0.5% plant agar, and wheat starch was used as an alternative gelling agent in a concentration of 5%. The results showed that for all blackberry cultivars, the highest number of shoots/inoculum was obtained in wheat starch-gelled culture medium, with a maximum value of 54.42 ± 4.18 presented by ‘Karaka Black’. Considering the length of the proliferated shoots, all tested cultivars presented outstanding results on the culture medium gelled with 5% wheat starch. The highest values regarding shoots length were observed on the ‘Chester Thornless’ followed by ‘Čačanska Bestrna’, and ‘Loch Ness’ with values of 5.55 ± 0.04 cm, 5.46 ± 0.06 cm, and 5.37 ± 0.09 cm, respectively. The genetic uniformity of the micropropagated shoots in relation to their mother plants was confirmed by sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) and start codon targeted (SCoT) molecular markers.

Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Several Blackberry (Rubus spp.) Fruits Cultivars Grown in Romania

Blackberry fruit (Rubus spp.) has a powerful antioxidant capacity due to the high levels of anthocyanins and other phenols it contains. In this work, we investigated the physico-chemical characteristics, the bioactive compounds (total phenols, flavonoids, and monomeric anthocyanins), and the antioxidant capacity of seven blackberry cultivars belonging to the Rubus fruticosus L. and Rubus laciniatus L. genera growing in the NW region of Romania. In addition, the wild blackberry cultivar from the same area was also evaluated. Anthocyanins from the blackberry fruit were extracted using SPE (Solid Phase Extraction), and the anthocyanin profile was identified and quantified using HPLC-PDA analysis. In terms of polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity, two of the cultivars examined stood out. The majority of anthocyanin found in blackberries was cyanidin-3-glucoside, with the highest amount recorded in the ‘Thorn Free’ cultivar at 329.26 ± 9.36 mg/g dw. Comparatively, ‘Loch Ness’ and ‘Thorn Free’ fruits exhibited total phenol contents of 1830.98 ± 13.55 and 1687.14 ± 62.41 mg GAE/100 g dw, respectively. Antioxidant capacities varied significantly among the eight blackberry cultivars, with cultivars ‘Loch Ness’ and ‘Thorn Free’ achieving high values in comparison to the others. The findings of the multivariate analysis also supported the experimental results. Knowing the phytochemical composition and antioxidant potential of different blueberry cultivars, one can use them as fresh, functional foods or for commercial purposes to produce products derived from fruits with a high concentration of bioactive components.

Breeding and Growth Performance of 'Ningzhi 4', a New Blackberry Cultivar with High Yield Potential and Good Quality in China.

The thornless blackberry cultivar 'Ningzhi 4' was developed by the Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botanical Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen). The new blackberry cultivar was selected from the 'Kiowa' (female parent) and 'Hull Thornless' (male parent) F1 hybrid. 'Ningzhi 4' had excellent plant characteristics, including thornlessness, semi-erect to erect canes, vigorous growth and good disease resistance. 'Ningzhi 4' had large fruit and high yield. In addition, the parents of the superior hybrid plant were further identified by SSR markers, which provided the basis for the fingerprint of the new blackberry cultivar 'Ningzhi 4'. This is a commercial cultivar to be grown for fruit production for either shipping or local sales. It also has value as a home-garden plant. This unique type of blackberry fruit was a traditional summer fruit. This new cultivar has thornless semi-erect to erect canes and produces high-quality berries with large size, good firmness, excellent flavor, and potential for shipping and postharvest storage. The new blackberry cultivar 'Ningzhi 4' is adapted to all areas of southern China and is expected to replace or complement 'Kiowa', 'Hull Thornless', 'Chester Thornless' and 'Triple Crown'. A local cultivar patent has been approved by the Jiangsu Variety Approval Committee as 'Rubus spp. Ningzhi 4' in 2020 (S-SV-RS-014-2020). In the future, 'Ningzhi 4' could be promoted as an advantageous thornless blackberry cultivar in the main production regions of China.