Ribes Uva-crispa Research Articles

EVALUATION OF RED CURRANTS (RIBES RUBRUML.), BLACK CURRANTS (RIBES NIGRUML.), RED AND GREEN GOOSEBERRIES (RIBES UVA-CRISPA) FOR POTENTIAL MANAGEMENT OF TYPE 2 DIABETES AND HYPERTENSION USINGIN VITROMODELS

Red currants (Ribes rubrum L.), black currants (Ribes nigrum L.), red and green gooseberries (Ribes uva-crispa) were evaluated for the total phenolics, antioxidant capacity based on 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay and functionality such as in vitro inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase and angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) relevant for potential management of hyperglycemia and hypertension. The total phenolics content ranged from 3.2 (green gooseberries) to 13.5 (black currants) mg/g fruit fresh weight. No correlation was found between total phenolics and antioxidant activity. The major phenolic compounds were quercetin derivatives (black currants and green gooseberries) and chlorogenic acid (red currants and red gooseberries). Red currants had the highest α-glucosidase, α-amylase and ACE inhibitory activities. Therefore red currants could be good dietary sources with potential antidiabetes and antihypertension functionality to compliment overall dietary management of early stages of type 2 diabetes.

Soluble sugar and organic acid contents and the occurrence and potential role of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) in gooseberry (Ribes grossularia L.)

SummaryChanges in carbohydrate and organic acid contents, and the occurrence and potential role of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) were investigated in gooseberry fruit (Ribes grossularia L., cv. White Smith), in 2006, in central Italy. The concentrations of glucose, fructose, and sucrose (mg g−1 FW) were relatively low up to 60 d after full bloom (DAFB), with glucose and fructose levels being higher than that of sucrose. All then increased up to harvest (approx. 110 DAFB), and sucrose became the most abundant soluble sugar. Malate and citrate concentrations (mg g−1 FW) and contents per fruit (mg fruit−1) increased up to 70 – 80 DAFB (malate up to approx. 70 DAFB and citrate up to approx. 80 DAFB) then decreased. The level of PEPCK was determined using both western blotting and enzyme activity measurements. PEPCK increased during fruit ripening and was most abundant when the malate and citrate contents decreased. The results are consistent with PEPCK playing a role in the catabolism of malate and citrate in gooseberry flesh during ripening.

Anticandidal effect of berry juices and extracts from Ribes species

AbstractThe biological activities of fruit juices and pomace (skin, seeds) extracts from blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum), gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa) and their hybrid plant (jostaberry, Ribes × nidigrolaria) were evaluated against the most frequently isolated twelve human pathogenic Candida species by broth dilution tests. The phenolic content of juice, water and methanol extracts were measured and the relationship with antifungal activity was assessed. Growth of the most Candida species was inhibited, with the exception of C. albicans, C. krusei, C. lusitaniae and C. pulcherrima. R. nigrum, with the highest phenol content, was observed to have the highest anticandidal activity, indicating a positive correlation between phenol content and antifungal activity.

Leaf Area Estimation Model for Small Fruits from Linear Measurements

Accurate and nondestructive methods to determine individual leaf areas of plants are a useful tool in physiological and agronomic research. Determining the individual leaf area (LA) of small fruit like raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.), redcurrant (Ribes rubrum L.), blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.), gooseberry (Ribes grossularia L.), and highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) involves measurements of leaf parameters such as length (L) and width (W) or some combinations of these parameters. A 2-year investigation was carried out during 2006 (on seven raspberry, seven redcurrant, six blackberry, five gooseberry, and two highbush blueberry cultivars) and 2007 (on one cultivar per species) under open field conditions to test whether a model could be developed to estimate LA of small fruits across cultivars. Regression analysis of LA versus L and W revealed several models that could be used for estimating the area of individual small fruit leaves. A linear model having LW as the independent variable provided the most accurate estimate (highest R 2, smallest mean square error, and the smallest predicted residual error sum of squares) of LA in all small fruit berries. Validation of the model having LW of leaves measured in the 2007 experiment coming from other cultivars of small fruit berries showed that the correlation between calculated and measured small fruit berries LAs was very high. Therefore, these models can estimate accurately and in large quantities the LA of small fruit plants in many experimental comparisons without the use of any expensive instruments.

Diversification of an ancient theme: Hydroxynitrile glucosides

Many plants produce cyanogenic glucosides as part of their chemical defense. They are α-hydroxynitrile glucosides, which release toxic hydrogen cyanide (HCN) upon cleavage by endogenous plant β-glucosidases. In addition to cyanogenic glucosides, several plant species produce β- and γ-hydroxynitrile glucosides. These do not release HCN upon hydrolysis by β-glucosidases and little is known about their biosynthesis and biological significance. We have isolated three β-hydroxynitrile glucosides, namely (2 Z)-2-(β- d-glucopyranosyloxy)but-2-enenitrile and (2 R,3 R)- and (2 R,3 S)-2-methyl-3-(β- d-glucopyranosyloxy)butanenitrile, from leaves of Ribes uva-crispa. These compounds have not been identified previously. We show that in several species of the genera Ribes, Rhodiola and Lotus, these β-hydroxynitrile glucosides co-occur with the l-isoleucine-derived hydroxynitrile glucosides, lotaustralin (α-hydroxynitrile glucoside), rhodiocyanosides A (γ-hydroxynitrile glucoside) and D (β-hydroxynitrile glucoside) and in some cases with sarmentosin (a hydroxylated rhodiocyanoside A). Radiolabelling experiments demonstrated that the hydroxynitrile glucosides in R. uva-crispa and Hordeum vulgare are derived from l-isoleucine and l-leucine, respectively. Metabolite profiling of the natural variation in the content of cyanogenic glucosides and β- and γ-hydroxynitrile glucosides in wild accessions of Lotus japonicus in combination with genetic crosses and analyses of the metabolite profile of the F2 population provided evidence that a single recessive genetic trait is most likely responsible for the presence or absence of β- and γ-hydroxynitrile glucosides in L. japonicus. Our findings strongly support the notion that the β- and γ-hydroxynitrile glucosides are produced by diversification of the cyanogenic glucoside biosynthetic pathway at the level of the nitrile intermediate.

Berry Fruits: Compositional Elements, Biochemical Activities, and the Impact of Their Intake on Human Health, Performance, and Disease

An overwhelming body of research has now firmly established that the dietary intake of berry fruits has a positive and profound impact on human health, performance, and disease. Berry fruits, which are commercially cultivated and commonly consumed in fresh and processed forms in North America, include blackberry ( Rubus spp.), black raspberry ( Rubus occidentalis), blueberry ( Vaccinium corymbosum), cranberry (i.e., the American cranberry, Vaccinium macrocarpon, distinct from the European cranberry, V. oxycoccus), red raspberry ( Rubus idaeus) and strawberry ( Fragaria x ananassa). Other berry fruits, which are lesser known but consumed in the traditional diets of North American tribal communities, include chokecherry ( Prunus virginiana), highbush cranberry ( Viburnum trilobum), serviceberry ( Amelanchier alnifolia), and silver buffaloberry ( Shepherdia argentea). In addition, berry fruits such as arctic bramble ( Rubus articus), bilberries ( Vaccinuim myrtillus; also known as bog whortleberries), black currant ( Ribes nigrum), boysenberries ( Rubus spp.), cloudberries ( Rubus chamaemorus), crowberries ( Empetrum nigrum, E. hermaphroditum), elderberries ( Sambucus spp.), gooseberry ( Ribes uva-crispa), lingonberries ( Vaccinium vitis-idaea), loganberry ( Rubus loganobaccus), marionberries ( Rubus spp.), Rowan berries ( Sorbus spp.), and sea buckthorn ( Hippophae rhamnoides), are also popularly consumed in other parts of the world. Recently, there has also been a surge in the consumption of exotic "berry-type" fruits such as the pomegranate ( Punica granatum), goji berries ( Lycium barbarum; also known as wolfberry), mangosteen ( Garcinia mangostana), the Brazilian açaí berry ( Euterpe oleraceae), and the Chilean maqui berry ( Aristotelia chilensis). Given the wide consumption of berry fruits and their potential impact on human health and disease, conferences and symposia that target the latest scientific research (and, of equal importance, the dissemination of this information to the general public), on the chemistry and biological and physiological functions of these "superfoods" are necessary.

Anthocyanins in Berries of Ribes Including Gooseberry Cultivars with a High Content of Acylated Pigments

Consumption of berries from various sources including the genus Ribes has been associated with diverse potential health benefits. The 14 examined cultivars of European gooseberry (R. grossularia L.) contained in various proportions the 3-glucoside (3), 3-rutinoside (4), 3-xyloside (7), 3-O-beta-(6' '-E-caffeoylglucopyranoside) (8), and 3-O-beta-(6' '-E-p-coumaroylglucopyranoside) (10) of cyanidin and the 3-rutinoside (6) and 3-glucoside of peonidin (5). Pigments 3, 4, delphinidin 3-rutinoside (2), delphinidin 3-glucoside (1), and minor amounts of 6, 7, and 10 were found in red flowering currant (R. sanguineum Pursh). Golden currant (R. aureum Pursh) contained 3, 4, and trace amounts of 1, 6, and 7, while alpine currant (R. alpinum L.) contained 3, 4, and trace amounts of 10. The major anthocyanins in two cultivars of jostaberries (R. x nidigrolaria Bauer), 1-4, 8, and 10, reflected that this hybrid contained the major anthocyanins of both parents, black currant and gooseberry. This is the first complete identification of 8 and the ring size of the sugar of 10. Pigment 9 was tentatively identified as cyanidin 3-(6' '-Z-p-coumaroylglucoside). This new pigment occurred in minor amounts (<2%) in all R. grosssularia and R. x nidigrolaria cultivars. No commercially available berries have been reported to contain such high proportions of aromatic acylated anthocyanins as found in the gooseberry cultivars "Samsø", "Hinnomäki Red", "Taastrup", "Lofthus", and "Glendal", which are in this context the most obvious candidates for consumption, colorant, and breeding programs.

A high‐throughput monolithic HPLC method for rapid Vitamin C phenotyping of berry fruit

A rapid method for the quantification of L-ascorbic acid (1) in berry fruit by HPLC with photodiode array detection is presented. L-Ascorbic acid was resolved on a C18 monolithic column with aqueous buffer, after which the column was washed with acetonitrile to remove lipophilic compounds prior to re-equilibration for analysis of the next sample. Using the monolithic column format with high mobile phase flow rates, the entire separation, wash and re-equilibration were achieved in 3 min. With the exception of gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa), for which an interfering compound co-eluted, concentrations of 1 could be determined in a wide range of berry fruits after extraction in metaphosphoric acid without further sample preparation. Using this extraction method, recoveries of 1 in excess of 85% were achieved. Fruit or juice extracts were stable in 5% metaphosphoric acid for at least 4 h and stability could be extended to longer than 150 h by the addition of the reducing agent tris(2-carboxethyl)phosphine hydrochloride. Following validation, the method was utilised for the phenotyping of fruit in a Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI) Ribes nigrum L. breeding population of 300 individuals. An improved extraction method allowed extraction, quantification of 1 and data analysis to be undertaken in less than one working week.

Identifying Harvest Maturity Indices for Five Cultivars of Gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa) Fruit

Abstract This report quantifies the variation in fruit physio-chemical characteristics of five cultivars of gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa).Each cultivar was completely harvested when 20% of the fruit on a bush were evaluated to be ripe. Harvest dates varied from 15 June (‘Rokula’) to 8 July for ‘Greenfinch’. ‘Invicta’ gave the largest fruit but was the least sweet, ‘Leveller’ had the smallest fruit and ‘Greenfinch’ the sweetest. Fruit color changed with fruit size, especially for the red cultivars, ‘Rokula’ and ‘Pax’. However, fruit size was not a good indicator of fruit sweetness. Selecting fruit on the basis of firmness and color rather than fruit size was a more accurate indicator of fruit sweetness and therefore consumer acceptability. Further investigation is required to determine quantifiable thresholds in terms of color, sweetness and/or firmness whereby a gooseberry is considered acceptable to the consumer as a fresh dessert fruit. The thresholds are likely to be specific to the cultivar.

Characterization of Anthocyanins and Proanthocyanidins in Some Cultivars ofRibes,Aronia, andSambucusand Their Antioxidant Capacity

Anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins were characterized by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS coupled with a diode array and/or fluorescent detector in seven cultivars of Ribes nigrum (black currant) and Ribes rubrum (red currant, Red Lake), six cultivars of Ribes grossularia (gooseberries), Aronia melanocarpa(chokeberry), and Sambucus nigra (elderberry). Thirty-one different anthocyanins were detected in these berries, but not every anthocyanin was observed in each berry. A number of minor anthocyanins were identified from these berries for the first time. The concentrations of individual anthocyanins in all of the berries were quantified using relevant anthocyanidin 3-glucoside standards. Among the berries studied in this paper and in berries in general, chokeberry has the highest total anthocyanin concentrations [1480 mg/100 g of fresh weight (FW)], whereas the lowest total anthocyanin concentration in the berries studied was found in the gooseberry cv. Careless, which contained only 0.07 mg/100 g of FW. Two cultivars of gooseberries (Marigold and Leveller) did not contain any anthocyanins. Total proanthocyanidin concentrations in the berries studied ranged from 23 to 664 mg/100 g of FW in elderberry and chokeberry, respectively. Procyanidin or prodelphinidin polymers were the predominant components (>65% w/w) in most of the berries. The lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidant capacities were measured by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC(FL)) procedure. The total antioxidant capacity varied from 21 micromol of TE/g of FW in Careless gooseberry to 161 micromol of TE/g of FW in chokeberry. Total phenolics in the berries in general paralleled hydrophilic antioxidant capacity.

Scree forests (Mercuriali-Tilietum) of the Börzsöny Mountains, Hungary

Scree forest communities Mercuriali-Tilietum Zolyomi et Jakucs 1958 of Borzsony Mts were not processed until the present. These lime-dominated forests develop on andesite base-rock, mainly on periglacial scree surfaces. Using the Braun-Blanquet-Soo method 15 sampling spots were studied and analysed based on floristical composition, cenological aspects and habitat characteristics. The stand's species stock consists of tree species like Acer platanoides, Carpinus betulus, Fraxinus excelsior, Tilia platyphyllos, shrubs like Cornus mas, Corylus avellana, Euonymus verrucosus, Ribes uva-crispa and herbs like Cystopteris fragilis, Dryopteris filix-mas, Galeobdolon luteum, Galium schultesii, G. odoratum, Hedera helix, Melica uniflora, Mercurialis perennis, Mycelis muralis, Poa nemoralis, Waldsteinia geoides. Rare Tilio-Acerion species are Adoxa moschatellina, Gagea minima, Geranium lucidum. Cenological categories, life forms, geoelement distribution, and Borhidi's Social Behaviour Types were studied on the basis ...

Quality and consumer acceptability of gooseberry fruits (Ribes uva-crispa) following CA and air storage

SummaryFor two successive years gooseberries, ‘Achilles’ were stored at 1°C in regular air (control) and under six various CA conditions (%CO2+ %O2: 6+18; 12+18; 18+18; 12+2; 18+2 and 24+2). Results showed that air storage is not appropriate to handle gooseberries due to a drastic reduction in fruit firmness (25% lower than CA-treatments), darkening of fruit colour, mealy texture, and lower acidity level. Low oxygen storage in combination with high CO2 concentrations (18% or more) of gooseberries also gave bad results, mainly due to the development of off-flavours in fruits. However, results showed that increasing CO2-concentration up to 12% did not induce the development of off-flavour. It seems that the tolerance concentration for gooseberries in respect to CO2 lies between 12-15%, since fruits stored under 18% CO2 combined with 18% O2 were evaluated to be good fruits, although a slight off-flavour was noticed by panelists. Consequently, the storage of gooseberries ‘Achilles’ under 12-15% CO2 combined with 18% O2 for up to seven weeks can be recommended.

Principal Anthocyans from Certain Plants of the Grossulariaceae Family

Anthocyans from the Grossulariaceae family are interesting as food dyes. The literature contains much data for the anthocyans composition of black currant (Ribes nigrum L.) [1-6]. However, some of the results are unexpected [6]. Using traditional methods, the detection of relatively large quantities of delphinidin and cyanidin diglucosides were reported. The composition of pigments in Grossulariaceae plants available to us was determined using a previously described HPLC method [7]. Plants growing in Belgorod region in 2003 were used. Anthocyans were extracted from fruit skin separated from pulp by soaking in aqueous formic acid (10%) until apparently bleached (about 10 mL of extractant per single fruit). The degree of anthocyan extraction was >97%. The next day the extract was filtered, diluted with eluent, and chromatographed. The variety of several specimens of black currant (more than 10 in various stages of ripening) was not exactly established. Specimens of Sokrovishche (Treasure) and Eksotika (Exotic) varieties were supplied by O. P. Zaporozhets. A mixture of several varieties was used in the study of anthocyans from gooseberry [Grossularia reclinata var. vulgare (L.)Mill.]. Investigations with the minimum effect (time and harshness of separation conditions) on the starting material indicate that the principal anthocyans of black currant are delphinidin and cyanidin glucosides and rutinosides, although in different ratios (Table 1). Usually (except for one instance), the content of delphinidin components is noticeably greater than that of cyanidin components.

Control of Powdery Mildew on Leaves and Stems of Gooseberry

Powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca mors-uvae) severely infects young leaves and stems of gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa) throughout the world. Environmentally friendly control measures are being sought as alternatives to sulfur or demethylation inhibiting fungicides. This study examined the effect of a mineral oil spray, the biological control agent Trichoderma harzianum Rifai strain T-22 (Trichoderma), a combination mineral oil + Tricoderma, and the chemical fungicide thiophanate, on powdery mildew severity in `Industry,' a susceptible gooseberry. Mineral oil at 8 mL·L-1 (1.0 fl oz/gal), Tricoderma at 4 g·L-1 (0.5 oz/gal) and thiophanate at 1.45 mL·L-1 (0.186 fl oz/gal), and mineral oil + Tricoderma mix was applied to plants until runoff at 2-week intervals from February 2002 through April 2002, on potted `Industry' plants growing in a greenhouse in U. S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, National Clonal Germplasm Repository (NCGR), Corvallis, Ore. The percent of infected leaves per plant were calculated and the percent of infected stem surface areas were visually rated in mid-April. The fungicide, mineral oil, and mineral oil + Tricoderma treatment applications significantly reduced powdery mildew severity inboth leaves and stems as compared with those of the unsprayed plants. The stem powdery mildew reduction levels of the mineral oil or a combination of mineral oil + Trichoderma treatments, were not statistically different than that of thiophanate, which is reported as commercially acceptable. We recommend mineral oil spray, or mineral oil + Tricoderma, as alternatives to fungicide control of powdery mildew on leaves and stems of young gooseberry plants.

Podosphaera mors-uvae . [Distribution map

Abstract A new distribution map is provided for Podosphaera mors-uvae (Schwein.) U. Braun &amp; S. Takamatsu Fungi: Ascomycota: Erysiphales Hosts: Black currant ( Ribes nigrum ), gooseberry ( Ribes uva-crispa ) and other Ribes spp. Information is given on the geographical distribution in EUROPE, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Central Russia Russian Far East, Northern Russia, Southern Russia, Western Siberia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Ukraine, Yugoslavia (former)' ASIA, China, Heilongjiang, Japan, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Turkey, AFRICA, Zimbabwe, sti, NORTH AMERICA, Canada, Ontario, USA, Alaska, California, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington, OCEANIA, Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, New Zealand.

Genetic characterization of gooseberry (Ribes grossularia subgenus Grossularia) germplasm using RAPD, ISSR and AFLP markers

SummaryRAPD, ISSR and AFLP markers were used to fingerprint and to examine genetic diversity among twelve genotypes of the gooseberry (Ribes grossularia subgenus Grossularia). AFLP generated unique profiles for each genotype. ISSR could not distinguish three of the genotypes, `Whinham's Industry' `Whitesmith' and `Leveller', whereas RAPD could not distinguish `Whinham's Industry' and `Leveller'. Similarity matrices and dendrograms illustrated the genetic similarities between the different genotypes but some clustering varied, depending on which marker type was being used. The results imply that the European cultivated gooseberry has a narrow genetic base and that further improvement to this crop species may require the introduction of additional germplasm into breeding programmes.

The structure of mature gooseberry (Ribes grossularia) fruits revealed non-invasively by NMR microscopy

NMR microscopy of mature gooseberry ( Ribes grossularia) fruits using the gradient-echo method clearly delineated the ovary wall from the parenchyma tissues which surround seeds in the locular cavity. The gelatinous sheath around each seed, a single-cell layer, was also clearly defined. The entire vascular architecture of the fruit was revealed: dark vascular bundles within two large parietal placentae and the funiculi provided the supply to the seeds, and other bundles were present in the outer layers of the ovary wall. Spin-echo pulse sequences also provided high contrast images of these histological features, except that the dark line which accentuated the outer surface of the gelatinous sheath around seeds in gradient-echo images was absent. In a snapshot FLASH T 1 sequence there was little change in image definition as the value of τ was reduced from 10.0 to 2.0 sec, but in the range of 2.0 to 0.5 sec a bright region was revealed which included sections of the innermost surface of the ovary wall and an unidentified band across the loculus. In a T 2 sequence there was no discrimination between the ovary wall and locular tissues for high values of τ, nor any change in image quality for values of τ between 1.0 and 10.0 sec. The image of the ovary wall and gelatinous layer around seeds was enhanced between 0.2 and 0.02 sec.

3,4-Dihydroxy-7,8-dihydro-.beta.-ionol .beta.-D-glucopyranoside: Natural precursor of isomeric vitispiranes from gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa L.) and white beam (Sorbus aria) leaves

After isolation of glycosidic extracts obtained from gooseberry (Ribes uva crispa L.) and whitebeam (Sorbus aria) leaves by Amberlite XAD-2 adsorption and methanol elution followed by hydrolsis under simultaneous distillation-extraction conditions at pH 2.5, among the aglycons the isomeric vitispiranes were detected as major constituents (20 and 70 mg/kg, respectively) by HRGC and HRGC-MS analyses

Puccinia caricina . [Distribution map

Abstract A new distribution map is provided for Puccinia caricina DC. Hosts: Gooseberry ( Ribes uva-crispa ) and other Ribes spp., Carex spp., Urtica spp. Information is given on the geographical distribution in Africa, Canary Islands, Egypt, Asia, China, Hebei, Heilonjiang, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Xinjiang, India, Iran, Japan, Russia, Siberia, Far East, Central Asia, Kamchatka, Siberia, Caucasus, Estonai, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Australasia &amp; Oceania, Australia, Queensland, South Australia, Europe, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Irish Republic, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Azores, Romania, Sweden, UK, Britain &amp; Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia, North America, Canada, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Mexico, USA, Central America &amp; West Indies, Panama, South America, Argentina, Chile, Falkland islands.

The mildew resistance gene Sph 2in relation to gall mite resistance in the black currant

In black currant progenies derived from parents heterozygous for resistance to American gooseberry mildew. Sphaerotheca mors-uvae (Schw.) Berk., and to gall mite, Cecidophyopsis ribisWestw. (genes Sph2from the Swedish cultivar Ojebyn and Ce from Ribes grossularia L., respectively), there is invariably a defieit of mildew resistant plants. Linkage in repulsion between Sph2and Ce would account for the significantly greater deficit of mildew resistants in the gall mite resistant class. In contrast with published data for the mildew resistance gene Sph3, there is no evidence of linkage of Sph2with the leafing out gene Lf1, suggesting that the gene order is Sph2-Ce-Lf1-Sph3.