Vaccinium Angustifolium Research Articles

Leaf nutrients ranges and berry yield optimization in response to soil-applied nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.)

Leaf nutrients ranges and berry yield optimization in response to soil-applied nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.)

Erratum to: Bearing fruit: flower removal reveals the trade-offs associated with high reproductive effort for lowbush blueberry.

Past studies have shown that taxa from disparate groups often respond similarly to reduced reproductive effort. These common responses imply that high reproductive effort trades off with a consistent set of other life functions for most angiosperms, albeit modulated by their growth form and life history. However, many questions remain about reproductive trade-offs in plants, including just how many other life functions they involve, how diverse these functions may be, and how the severity of these trade-offs may vary through time. To address these questions in a long-lived, iteroparous shrub, we performed flower removal on plots of lowbush blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium (Ericaceae), over 3 years. We found significant physiological differences between removal and control plots for ten diverse traits. Vegetative phenology was shifted earlier by about 20% in removal plots, and removal plots had about 15% more vegetative biomass by mid-season as well. Removal plots produced about 10% more ripe fruit per reproductive node by harvest than control plots, and reproductive nodes in removal plots produced at least one fruit by harvest about 6% more often. While fruit water content and titratable acidity were increased by removal, other fruit traits, such as sugar content and fresh mass, were not. The strength of the removal effect varied significantly by year for seven traits; for many, such as vegetative mass/stem and ripe fruit production/node, the effect was stronger in years with more stressful abiotic conditions. Our results demonstrate that there are tangible but variable costs to high reproductive effort for flowering plants.

Grid-Set-Match, an agent-based simulation model, predicts fruit set for the lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) agroecosystem

Fruit set, the proportion of flowers whose ovaries successfully bear fruit, is the product of dozens of processes, many of which are difficult to study and manipulate in situ. To establish which of these processes are most important in the lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton; Ericaceae) agroecosystem, an agent-based simulation model, Grid-Set-Match, with temporal and spatial elements was constructed using the R software package. Pollination ecology data from this system were used to parameterize the model. Then, results from 1,000 iterations of the model were compared to field fruit set data from a survey of 162 lowbush blueberry fields from 1993 to 2015 as well as from a field study conducted from 2013 to 2015.Predicted fruit set for an average lowbush blueberry field was 0.366 according to Grid-Set-Match. Based on currently available field data, this estimate appears realistic, although it may be a slight underestimate in part because variability in pollinator densities between real fields is higher than the model accounted for. A multiple regression model indicated that, across a sample of clones created by Grid-Set-Match under default parameter settings, fruit set declined significantly as the average genetic load of a clone’s neighbors increased and as self-pollination rate increased, with the latter effect being ∼20% stronger than the former. As such, future research should be directed towards understanding and better managing factors that may influence rates of self- vs. cross-pollination in this system, such as pollen carryover, intra-hive pollen transfer, and pollinator flight distances between consecutively visited flowers.

Bearing fruit: flower removal reveals the trade-offs associated with high reproductive effort for lowbush blueberry.

Past studies have shown that taxa from disparate groups often respond similarly to reduced reproductive effort. These common responses imply that high reproductive effort trades off with a consistent set of other life functions for most angiosperms, albeit modulated by their growth form and life history. However, many questions remain about reproductive trade-offs in plants, including just how many other life functions they involve, how diverse these functions may be, and how the severity of these trade-offs may vary through time. To address these questions in a long-lived, iteroparous shrub, we performed flower removal on plots of lowbush blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium (Ericaceae), over 3years. We found significant physiological differences between removal and control plots for ten diverse traits. Vegetative phenology was shifted earlier by about 20% in removal plots, and removal plots had about 15% more vegetative biomass by mid-season as well. Removal plots produced about 10% more ripe fruit per reproductive node by harvest than control plots, and reproductive nodes in removal plots produced at least one fruit by harvest about 6% more often. While fruit water content and titratable acidity were increased by removal, other fruit traits, such as sugar content and fresh mass, were not. The strength of the removal effect varied significantly by year for seven traits; for many, such as vegetative mass/stem and ripe fruit production/node, the effect was stronger in years with more stressful abiotic conditions. Our results demonstrate that there are tangible but variable costs to high reproductive effort for flowering plants.

Flower power: Floral and resource manipulations reveal how and why reproductive trade-offs occur for lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium).

Plant reproductive trade‐offs are thought to be caused by resource limitations or other constraints, but more empirical support for these hypotheses would be welcome. Additionally, quantitative characterization of these trade‐offs, as well as consideration of whether they are linear, could yield additional insights. We expanded our flower removal research on lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) to explore the nature of and causes of its reproductive trade‐offs. We used fertilization, defoliation, positionally biased flower removal, and multiple flower removal levels to discern why reproductive trade‐offs occur in this taxon and to plot these trade‐offs along two continuous axes. We found evidence through defoliation that vegetative mass per stem may trade off with reproductive effort in lowbush blueberry because the two traits compete for limited carbon. Also, several traits including ripe fruit production per reproductive node and fruit titratable acidity may be “sink‐limited”—they decline with increasing reproductive effort because average reproductive structure quality declines. We found no evidence that reproductive trade‐offs were caused by nitrogen limitation. Use of reproductive nodes remaining per stem as a measure of reproductive effort indicated steeper trade‐offs than use of the proportion of nodes remaining. For five of six traits, we found evidence that the trade‐off could be concave down or up instead of strictly linear. Synthesis. To date, studies have aimed primarily at identifying plant reproductive trade‐offs. However, understanding how and why these trade‐offs occur represent the exciting and necessary next steps for this line of inquiry.

Differential iridoid production as revealed by a diversity panel of 84 cultivated and wild blueberry species.

Cultivated blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum, Vaccinium angustifolium, Vaccinium darrowii, and Vaccinium virgatum) is an economically important fruit crop native to North America and a member of the Ericaceae family. Several species in the Ericaceae family including cranberry, lignonberry, bilberry, and neotropical blueberry species have been shown to produce iridoids, a class of pharmacologically important compounds present in over 15 plant families demonstrated to have a wide range of biological activities in humans including anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory. While the antioxidant capacity of cultivated blueberry has been well studied, surveys of iridoid production in blueberry have been restricted to fruit of a very limited number of accessions of V. corymbosum, V. angustifolium and V. virgatum; none of these analyses have detected iridoids. To provide a broader survey of iridoid biosynthesis in cultivated blueberry, we constructed a panel of 84 accessions representing a wide range of cultivated market classes, as well as wild blueberry species, and surveyed these for the presence of iridoids. We identified the iridoid glycoside monotropein in fruits and leaves of all 13 wild Vaccinium species, yet only five of the 71 cultivars. Monotropein positive cultivars all had recent introgressions from wild species, suggesting that iridoid production can be targeted through breeding efforts that incorporate wild germplasm. A series of diverse developmental tissues was also surveyed in the diversity panel, demonstrating a wide range in iridoid content across tissues. Taken together, this data provides the foundation to dissect the molecular and genetic basis of iridoid production in blueberry.

The effects of 100% wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) juice consumption on cardiometablic biomarkers: a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial in adults with increased risk for type 2 diabetes

BackgroundWild blueberries have a high content of polyphenols, but there is limited data evaluating their health benefits in adults at risk for type 2 diabetes. The objective of the study was to investigate whether consumption of 100% wild blueberry juice improves cardiometabolic biomarkers associated with type 2 diabetes risk.MethodsA single-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover design trial was conducted in which adults (women, n = 19, ages 39–64 y) at risk for type 2 diabetes consumed 240 mL of wild blueberry juice or a placebo beverage as part of their free-living diet for 7 days. Blood was collected to determine various biomarkers such as fasting plasma glucose, fasting serum insulin, surrogate markers of insulin sensitivity, triglycerides, inflammation (interleukin-6, interleukin-10, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, serum amyloid A), adhesion molecules (soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1), oxidative stress (LDL-oxidation, total 8-isoprostanes), and nitric oxide. Endothelial function and blood pressure were also assessed.ResultsWild blueberry juice consumption for 7 days produced no significant changes in glucose, insulin, insulin sensitivity, triglycerides, inflammatory markers, adhesion molecules, oxidative stress, endothelial function or blood pressure. However, wild blueberry juice consumption showed a trend for lowering systolic blood pressure: 120.8 ± 2.2 mmHg in the placebo group vs 116.0 ± 2.2 mmHg in the blueberry juice group (P = 0.088). Serum concentrations of nitrates and nitrites, an index of nitric oxide production, increased from 2.9 ± 0.4 μM after placebo drink to 4.1 ± 0.4 μM after drinking wild blueberry juice (P = 0.039).ConclusionsShort-term consumption of wild blueberry juice may promote cardioprotective effects, by improving systolic blood pressure, possibly through nitric oxide production, in adults at risk for type 2 diabetes. This outcome warrants longer-term human studies of blueberries, including defined amounts of either the whole fruit or juice, to clarify whether polyphenol-rich foods can be efficacious for improving cardiometabolic biomarkers in adults at risk for type 2 diabetes.Trial registrationNCT02139878, clinicaltrials.gov; date of registration: May 4, 2014.

Examination of dogbane beetle (Chrysochus auratus) feeding and phenology on spreading dogbane, and considerations for biological control

We carried out experiments that considered the feeding, phenology, and biocontrol potential of dogbane beetle, Chrysochus auratus, on spreading dogbane, Apocynum androsaemifolium, a native perennial weed in lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium). In no-choice host-feeding experiments, adult beetles did not feed upon common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), periwinkle (Vinca minor), wild raisin (Viburnum cassenoides), and lowbush blueberry, all plants related to spreading dogbane or found around lowbush blueberry fields. In a field experiment, significant decreases in spreading dogbane total and foliar weight occurred at a density of 16 beetles per ramet, but not at lower beetle densities. In our Nova Scotia (NS) field sites, beetles were present for 8–12 weeks, beginning in late June or early July (225–335 growing degree days, GDD). Beetle abundance peaked at 4–7 beetles/m2 and occurred at 357–577 GDD, which temporally coincides with the incidence of mature spreading dogbane plants in the field. The results suggest that although inundations of C. auratus could cause significant defoliation of spreading dogbane, natural populations of the beetle probably could not satisfactorily suppress development of this weed as a stand-alone control tactic. Conservation and augmentation of C. auratus populations should nonetheless be encouraged in integrated management programs for spreading dogbane.

Low‐density lipoprotein oxidation inhibition by anthocyanins of wild blueberries

AbstractThe use of natural compounds to prevent oxidative damage in biological systems is becoming increasingly popular. Blueberries have been of specific interest because of their high antioxidant capacity. Anthocyanins were extracted from berries of Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton and Vaccinium myrtilloides Michaux at 79 °C in acidified ethanol with phosphoric acid as a solvent using a liquid/solid ratio of 10. Extracted anthocyanins were purified on a C‐18 silica‐packed column and analyzed by HPLC coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Of the six common anthocyanidins, five were identified in the extracts, namely delphinidin, cyanidin, peonidin, petunidin, and malvidin, while pelargonidin was not found. The free radical scavenging effects of anthocyanins were evaluated using N,N‐dimethyl‐p‐phenylenediamine method as well as their potential to mitigate in vitro low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidative damage. After 6 h of incubation, the oxidation products formation such as that of conjugated dienes, trienes, and hexanal was inhibited up to 60 %. Based on these data, we concluded that anthocyanins from V. angustifolium and V. myrtilloides of Quebec possess the ability to inhibit in vitro LDL oxidation.

Epoxynemanione A, nemanifuranones A–F, and nemanilactones A–C, from Nemania serpens, an endophytic fungus isolated from Riesling grapevines

Ten polyketide specialized metabolites, epoxynemanione A, nemanifuranones A–F, and nemanilactones A–C, were isolated from the culture filtrate of Nemania serpens (Pers.) Grey (1821), an endophytic fungus from a Riesling grapevine (Vitis vinifera) found in Canada's Niagara region. Additionally, four known metabolites 2-(hydroxymethyl)-3-methoxy-benzoic acid, phyllostine, 5-methylmellein and a nordammarane triterpenoid were isolated. A related known metabolite 2,3-dihydro-2-hydroxy-2,4-dimethyl-5-trans-propenylfuran-3-one has also been included for structural and biological comparison to the nemanifuranones. The latter was isolated from the culture filtrates of Mollisia nigrescens, an endophytic fungus from the leaves and stems of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) found in the Acadian forest of Nova Scotia, Canada. Their structures were elucidated based on 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS measurements, X-ray crystallographic analysis of nemanifuranone A, the nordammarane triterpenoid and 2,3-dihydro-2-hydroxy-2,4-dimethyl-5-trans-propenylfuran-3-one compounds, and comparison of NOE and vicinal 1H-1H coupling constants to literature data for relative stereochemical assignments. Nemanifuranone A possesses a rare C2 hemiacetal and was active against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

CrowdCurio: an online crowdsourcing platform to facilitate climate change studies using herbarium specimens.

Phenology is a key aspect of plant success. Recent research has demonstrated that herbarium specimens can provide important information on plant phenology. Massive digitization efforts have the potential to greatly expand herbarium-based phenological research, but also pose a serious challenge regarding efficient data collection. Here, we introduce CrowdCurio, a crowdsourcing tool for the collection of phenological data from herbarium specimens. We test its utility by having workers collect phenological data (number of flower buds, open flowers and fruits) from specimens of two common New England (USA) species: Chelidonium majus and Vaccinium angustifolium. We assess the reliability of using nonexpert workers (i.e. Amazon Mechanical Turk) against expert workers. We also use these data to estimate the phenological sensitivity to temperature for both species across multiple phenophases. We found no difference in the data quality of nonexperts and experts. Nonexperts, however, were a more efficient way of collecting more data at lower cost. We also found that phenological sensitivity varied across both species and phenophases. Our study demonstrates the utility of CrowdCurio as a crowdsourcing tool for the collection of phenological data from herbarium specimens. Furthermore, our results highlight the insight gained from collecting large amounts of phenological data to estimate multiple phenophases.

Andrenaspp. Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae) Nesting Density in Lowbush BlueberryVaccinium angustifoliumAiton (Ericales: Ericaceae) Influenced by Management Practices

Andrena are one of the most important wild bee pollinators in lowbush blueberry, and crop management decisions may impact their density in the crop field. Prune method (burning versus mowing) and crop cycle may influence Andrena abundance and nesting decisions, and influence pollination services to this pollinator dependent crop. We measured spring soil temperatures and counted mining bee tumuli in lowbush blueberry fields over two years. In the second year, we measured the influence of lowbush blueberry stem density on soil temperature. We recorded Andrena visitation to nearby crop fields to see if tumuli density corresponded with Andrena visitation rates. Burned fields supported higher densities of tumuli, especially in 2015. Fields managed on a split cycle supported higher densities of tumuli than non-split fields. Soil surface temperatures were higher in burned fields in 2015, but not in 2016. Stem density exerted a greater effect on temperature than pruning method in 2016, and may moderate subsoil temperature. Tumuli densities were not a predictor of Andrena flower visitor abundance. Based upon known richness and relative abundance of the Andrena assemblage associated with the crop, we deduced the most likely species of tumuli occupants. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Vaccinium angustifolium Root Extract Suppresses FcɛRI Expression in Human Basophilic KU812F Cells.

Vaccinium angustifolium, commonly known as the lowbush blueberry, is a rich source of flavonoids, with which various human physiological activities have been associated. The present study focuses on the investigation of the effect of the methanolic extract of V. angustifolium root extract (VAE) on high affinity immunoglobulin E receptor (FcɛRI) α chain antibody (CRA-1)-induced allergic reaction in human basophilic KU812F cells. The total phenolic content of VAE was found to be 170±1.9 mg gallic acid equivalents/g. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that the cell surface expression of FcɛRI was suppressed in a concentration-dependent manner upon culture with VAE. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the mRNA level of the FcɛRI α chain was reduced in a concentration-dependent manner as a result of VAE treatment. Western blot analysis revealed that the protein expression of FcɛRI and the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2 were concentration-dependently inhibited by VAE. We determined that VAE inhibited anti-CRA-1-induced histamine release, in addition to the elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), in a concentration-dependent manner. These results indicate that VAE may exert an anti-allergic effect via the inhibition of calcium influx and histamine release, which occurs as a result of the down-regulation of FcɛRI expression through inhibition of ERK 1/2 activation.

A review of the monitoring and management of Spotted-Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) in lowbush blueberrie

The recent arrival of spotted-wing drosophilia (Drosophila suzukii) to eastern Canada is a major threat to the million dollar lowbush blueberry industry. The highly fecund female fly lays her eggs in ripe soft-skinned fruit. The maturing larvae consume the fruit interior, ultimately resulting in fruit collapse and decreased yield. Effective monitoring and management of this pest is essential for reducing the risk of export market closure and economic losses. In this literature review, an integrated pest management plan is developed that outlines current monitoring and management practices for the pest and considers preventative physical, chemical and biological controls.

Harvest date and storage effect on fruit size, phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of wild blueberries of NW Ontario, Canada.

Blueberries are eaten fresh or after storing at room temperature, refrigerator or freezer but little is known about changes in food values of wild blueberries due to harvest dates and storage conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of harvest date and storage conditions of wild blueberries on berry quality and health related chemistry. We analyzed Vaccinium angustifolium, V. angustifolium var. nigrum, and V. myrtilloides native to NW Ontario, Canada harvested early and late in the season for total phenol (TP), anthocyanin contents (AC), and soluble solids to titratable acidity ratio storing at room temperature, refrigerator and freezer temperature. We also determined their antioxidant content and activity (ORAC). Late harvest and low temperature storage significantly increased TP and AC for most genotypes. In V. myrtilloides TP increased by 50, 44 and 45% respectively at late harvest, 14days refrigerator and 90days freezer storage. It also had significantly higher ORAC (22 and 33%) than the other two genotypes. Wild blueberry pickers and consumers can optimize health benefits and quality attributes of blueberries by customizing harvest protocols and choice of cultivar and storage in household fridge and freezer. Blueberry storage, at household fridge and freezer temperature, does not reduce its health benefits.

Is early pollination to lowbush blueberry an ecosystem service or disservice?

Pollination is frequently identified as an important ecosystem service to agricultural production. In contrast, ecosystem disservices are rarely considered. This study explores pollinator service versus disservice in lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) production. This crop is highly managed, requires insect pollination, and has a relatively long bloom; when combined, these characteristics may cause a portion of early season pollination to result in premature ripening and loss. To test this, we exposed early and late flowering clones to early season (wild) pollination only or late season (wild and managed) pollination only. Contrary to our hypothesis of disservice, pre-harvest loss, shatter, and sugar content were consistent across treatments, even though early season pollination plots exhibited heavier berries. Remarkably, early season pollination plots produced over 70% of the total production of late season pollination plots. These results suggest that early season pollination by wild pollinators does not present an ecosystem disservice to lowbush blueberry production.

Pollination Reservoirs in Lowbush Blueberry (Ericales: Ericaceae).

Pollinator-dependent agriculture heavily relies upon a single pollinator—the honey bee. To diversify pollination strategies, growers are turning to alternatives. Densely planted reservoirs of pollen- and nectar-rich flowers (pollination reservoirs, hereafter “PRs”) may improve pollination services provided by wild bees. Our focal agroecosystem, lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton), exists in a simple landscape uniquely positioned to benefit from PRs. First, we contrast bee visitation rates and use of three types of PR. We consider the effects of PRs on wild bee diversity and the composition of bumble bee pollen loads. We contrast field-level crop pollination services between PRs and controls four years postestablishment. Last, we calculate the time to pay for PR investment. Social bees preferentially used clover plantings; solitary bees preferentially used wildflower plantings. On average, bumble bee pollen loads in treatment fields contained 37% PR pollen. PRs significantly increased visitation rates to the crop in year 4, and exerted a marginally significant positive influence on fruit set. The annualized costs of PRs were covered by the fourth year using the measured increase in pollination services. Our findings provide evidence of the positive impact of PRs on crop pollination services.

Fermented blueberry juice extract and its specific fractions have an anti-adipogenic effect in 3\xa0T3-L1 cells

BackgroundObesity and Type 2 diabetes have reached epidemic status worldwide. Wild lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) is a plant of the North American Aboriginal traditional pharmacopeia with antidiabetic potential, especially when it is fermented with Serratia vaccinii.MethodsA phytochemical fractionation scheme was used to identify potential bioactive compounds as confirmed by HPLC retention times and UV–Vis spectra. 3 T3-L1 cells were differentiated for 7 days with either Normal Blueberry Extract (NBE), Fermented Blueberry Extract (FBE/F1), seven fractions and four pure compounds. Triglyceride content was measured. Examination of selected intracellular signalling components (p-Akt, p-AMPK) and transcriptional factors (SREBP-1c and PPARγ) was carried out by Western blot analysis.ResultsThe inhibitory effect of FBE/F1 on adipocyte triglyceride accumulation was attributed to total phenolic (F2) and chlorogenic acid enriched (F3-2) fractions that both inhibited by 75%. Pure compounds catechol (CAT) and chlorogenic acid (CA) also inhibited adipogenesis by 70%. Treatment with NBE, F1, F3-2, CAT and CA decreased p-AKT, whereas p-AMPK tended to increase with F1. The expression of SREBP1-c was not significantly modulated. In contrast, PPARγ decreased in all experimental groups that inhibited adipogenesis.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate that fermented blueberry extract contains compounds with anti-adipogenic activity, which can serve to standardize nutraceutical preparations from fermented blueberry juice and to develop novel compounds with anti-obesity properties.

Lowbush Blueberry, Highbush Blueberry and Cranberry Extracts Protect Cucumber (<i>Cucumis sativus</i> L.) Cotyledons from Damage Induced by UV-B Irradiation

Lowbush Blueberry, Highbush Blueberry and Cranberry Extracts Protect Cucumber (<i>Cucumis sativus</i> L.) Cotyledons from Damage Induced by UV-B Irradiation

Variation in Bacterial and Eukaryotic Communities Associated with Natural and Managed Wild Blueberry Habitats

We examined the differences between bacterial and eukaryotic soil communities associated with natural and managed habitats of wild blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium. In total, 138 bacterial and 130 eukaryotic soil and rhizosphere communities across seven blueberry fields, all established at least 30 years ago and from two forest areas adjacent to some of these fields, were analyzed. We analyzed correlations between soil chemical factors and the structure of eukaryotic and bacterial communities, including differences in the microbiome between bulk and rhizosphere soils, and between rhizospheres of plants growing in natural and managed habitats. Characterization of a broad selection of fields across the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, allowed us to tentatively identify specific signatures from several distinct soil niches. Our data indicate that bacterial and eukaryotic communities differ in how they correlate with soil chemical properties. Also, while eukaryotic communities correlate stronger with soil fertility than bacterial communities, plant selection had a stronger effect on bacterial microbiomes than on eukaryote microbiomes. Additionally, we found that the composition of root-associated bacterial communities differs between managed and natural wild blueberry habitats, confirming previous reports that management can affect rhizosphere microbiomes.