Rubus Laciniatus Research Articles

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.

Nowe gatunki obce i rodzime rozprzestrzeniające się w północno-wschodniej Polsce poza granicami swoich pierwotnych zasięgów

The paper presents data on 32 alien plant species as well as seven ones native for other regions of the country which had not been recorded in NE Poland before or were known so far from only a few sites. The most important source of the spread of alien species in the initial stages of colonization is their intentional introduction into cultivation. Ornamental plants constitute 48.7% of recorded new species. The railway routes allowed spontaneous colonization of nine species (23%). The remaining species (28%) were most likely introduced by road transport of people and goods. The vast majority of alien species (77%) begin colonization in highly disturbed man-made habitats, especially ruderal ones in urban areas, as well as roadsides and embankments along communication routes, and so far they have appeared only in the sites of such types in the region. Only a few plants of alien origin are able to colonize forest habitats (i.a. trees and shrubs spreading by birds: Crataegus coccinea, Malus toringo and Rubus laciniatus). The expansion of Miscanthus sacchariflorus may pose the greatest risk of entering semi-natural habitats and naturally valuable areas in the near future. Predictions regarding the possibility of an explosive spread of Iva xanthiifolia did not come true. This may also apply to Erechtites hieraciifolius.

Chemical Properties, Antioxidant Activities and Sensory Evaluation of Berry Vinegar

This study was carried out to examine the chemical properties, antioxidant activities and sensory scores of berry vinegar produced from 4 berry species, namely Morus alba L. (Mulberry), Vaccinium macrocarpon L. (Cranberry), Rubus idaeus L. (Rasberry), and Rubus laciniatus L. (Blackberry). Berry vinegars were produced via a 2-stage (alcoholic and acetous) fermentation process. The initial soluble solid contents in the berry juice were adjusted to 22 ºBrix before the fermentation. Alcoholic fermentation was conducted using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as the inoculant while Acetobacter pasteurianus was used for acetous fermentation. As observed for all samples during the alcoholic fermentation the levels of soluble solids decreased continuously and the levels of alcohol were found to increase at the end of fermentation process. Notably, the wine produced from ‘Blackberry’ species exhibited the highest levels of alcohol (11.73 %) while those produced from ‘Mulberry’ exhibited the highest levels of antioxidant activity (60.85 %). Similar results were observed for all samples during the acetous fermentation, in which the levels of alcohol dropped continuously and the levels of acetic acid were noted to elevate at the end of the fermentation process. The highest levels of acetic acid (5.01 %) was detected in the vinegars produced from ‘Cranberry’ species while those produced form ‘Raspberry’ species exhibited the highest levels of antioxidant activity (74.43 %). Sensory evaluation based on the 9-point hedonic scales showed that the vinegars produced from ‘Mulberry’ species displayed the highest overall acceptability with an average score of 7.27, equivalent to the hedonic scale of 9, which indicated the moderately pleasant levels of the vinegar preference of the consumers.

Invaded range of the blackberry pathogen Phragmidium violaceum in the Pacific Northwest of the USA and the search for its provenance

Field surveys in 2006 confirmed that the exotic rust fungus Phragmidium violaceum was widespread on Rubus armeniacus and Rubus laciniatus in the Pacific Northwest of the USA. The origin and dispersal pattern of this obligate biotrophic pathogen in the USA were investigated by comparing the genetic diversity and structure of 27 isolates each from the USA and Europe, and 20 isolates from Australia where an invasion occurred in 1984. Analysis of 11 microsatellite loci revealed 74 unique genotypes, with the European population having a significantly higher level of allelic diversity and number of private alleles compared to populations from the USA and Australia. Principal coordinate analysis (PCA), analysis of molecular variance and pairwise comparisons of Φ confirmed a strong level of differentiation among continental populations, with little divergence between isolates from the USA and Europe, but a high level of differentiation between these isolates and those from Australia. These results were broadly supported by the Bayesian cluster analysis, which indicated that at K = 3 the clustering of the isolates corresponds to their geographic origin. Bayesian clustering, PCA as well as insignificant migration estimates from Europe to the USA suggest that the USA population is not a direct descendant from the European P. violaceum population. There was a weak association between genetic and geographic distance among the USA isolates, suggesting invasion was initially localized prior to dispersal or that the population may have been present for some time prior to first detection in 2005.

Gnomonia rostellata . [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria

Abstract A description is provided for Gnomonia rostellata . Some information on its dispersal and transmission and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Canada (Ontario), USA (California, North Carolina, Oregon), Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, UK and former Yugoslavia), hosts ( Fragaria sp., Rosa rugosa, Rosa sp., Rubus allegheniensis, Rubus caesius, Rubus fruticosus, Rubus idaeus, Rubus idaeus subsp. sachalinensis , Rubus laciniatus, Rubus parviflorus, Rubus villosus and Rubus sp.) and associated fungi ( Lophiostoma fuckelii, Otthia spiraeae and Mollisia rosae ).

Phragmidium violaceum on Rubus armeniacus and R. laciniatus in British Columbia.

Phragmidium violaceum , an introduced pathogenic rust fungus causing leaf spots and blight is reported for the first time in British Columbia from locations on central and south central Vancouver Island and the lower mainland near Aldergrove. Its hosts are two invasive introduced weed species: Rubus armeniacus , Himalayan blackberry, and R. laciniatus , evergreen blackberry. The identification of the rust was confirmed by both morphological observations and molecular techniques, and the current known distribution of the pathogen in BC is described.

Pathogenicity of Phragmidium violaceum isolates on European blackberry clones and on leaves of different ages

Phragmidium violaceum (Pv) isolate F15 was released for biological control of invasive European blackberry in Australia in 1991–1992. This study reports variation in the pathogenicity of isolate F15 and Pv isolates SA1, V1 and V2, collected in southeastern Australia in 1997 or 1998, on a broad sample of genetically variable European blackberry clones collected in 1996–2000. The use of whole shoots or detached leaflet discs led to the same conclusions about the relative susceptibility of a blackberry clone to a particular Pv isolate. Moderate to relatively high numbers of uredinia developed on all 25 blackberry clones inoculated with isolate V1, whereas no or few uredinia of isolates V2 and SA1 developed on Rubus erythrops clone EB20, three clones of Rubus leucostachys (EB9, EB19 and 960804) or Rubus sp. clone SR43. Pv isolate F15 differed from the three isolates collected in Australia in that no or few uredinia of F15 developed on Rubus polyanthemus clone 961107 or three clones of Rubus laciniatus (EB22, KE1, SR14). Isolate F15 also differed from isolates V1 and V2 for the density of uredinia as a function of leaf age in a clone of Rubus anglocandicans found widely in Australia. Isolates V1 and V2 ceased production of uredinia on leaves older than 16 days, whereas Pv isolate F15 continued production of uredinia beyond this leaf age. This study informed selection of additional Pv isolates from Europe for release in Australia in 2004.

Factors Influencing Epidemiology and Management of Blackberry Rust in Cultivated Rubus laciniatus.

The blackberry rust pathogen Phragmidium violaceum was first observed in Oregon in spring 2005 on both commercially cultivated Rubus laciniatus (Evergreen blackberry) and naturalized R. armeniacus (Himalayan blackberry). Several commercial plantings suffered severe economic losses. In 2006 to 2008, all five spore stages of this autoecious, macrocyclic rust pathogen were observed annually, and asexual perennation of the pathogen on old leaves or in leaf buds was not evident in the disease cycle. In field experiments, teliospore germination and infection by basidiospores occurred mostly during April. On potted "trap" plants exposed for periods of 1 week under dense collections of dead leaves bearing teliospores, basidiospore infection was associated with wetness durations of >16 h with mean temperatures >8°C. Trap plants placed under the bundles of collected leaves frequently developed spermagonia, whereas only 1 of 630 trap plants placed in a production field of R. laciniatus became diseased, an indication that the effective dispersal distance of basidiospores may be limited. In growth chambers programmed for constant temperatures of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30°C, a minimum of six continuous hours of leaf wetness was required for infection by urediniospores, with >9 h required for moderate infection (>4 pustules/cm2) at 15 and 20°C. With diurnal temperature regimes averaging 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25°C, urediniospore germination and infection was highest in the range of 5 to 15°C; similarly, in the diurnal environment, >9 h of leaf wetness was required to attain moderate infection. In the field, lime sulfur applied as a delayed dormant treatment significantly suppressed teliospore germination and basidiospore infection. Over two seasons, one application of myclobutanil, a demethylation-inhibitor fungicide, applied in early May near the time of spermagonial appearance provided effective suppression of the summer epidemic.

Dasineura plicatrix (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae): a recent introduction into North America

AbstractThe first record of a European blackberry leaf gall midge, Dasineura plicatrix (Loew), is confirmed from North America. Specimens were reared from damaged leaves of blackberry, Rubus laciniatus Willd. (thornless variety ‘Chester’), and red raspberry, R. idaeus L. (variety ‘Cascade Delight’) (Rosaceae), in southwestern British Columbia. Photographs of the damage and illustrations of the male terminalia and female ovipositor are presented to assist future determinations.

First Report of the Rust Phragmidium violaceum on Pennsylvania Blackberry in California.

In April 2005, a rust fungus on Pennsylvania blackberry, Rubus pensilvanicus Poiret (= R. abactus Bailey), was collected in Humboldt County, CA. Although native to eastern North America, this host is an escaped cultivar that occurs in disturbed areas throughout California. Morphological and molecular data suggest that this rust is Phragmidium violaceum (Schultz) G. Winter. To confirm the identification of the specimen from California, an ~1,000-bp section of ribosomal DNA from the 28S large subunit was amplified and sequenced with rust-specific primers (M. C. Aime, unpublished data) (Genbank Accession No. EF672358). This sequence was 100% homologous to sequences of this rust species from Oregon and France. Widespread in Europe and introduced into Australasia as a biological control agent, P. violaceum has recently been reported from Oregon on Himalayan and evergreen blackberries, R. armeniacus Focke and R. laciniatus Willd. (2). Finding this rust in California about the same time as in Oregon suggests that its distribution may be widespread, possibly existing in the United States for some time. To our knowledge, this the first report from California and of the rust species on this plant host (1). The specimen from California is infected with urediniospores but lacks teliospores; it has been deposited at the U.S. National Fungus Collections as BPI 877816.

Identification of Ellagic Acid in Blackberry Juice Sediment

ABSTRACT: The sediment in a commercial reconstituted ‘Evergreen’ blackberry (Rubus laciniatus L.) juice concentrate was found to be composed of ellagic acid, protein, and other unidentified compounds. The qualitative tannin and protein-tannin haze test indicated that the sediment was predominantly tannin or protein-tannin complexes. Nitrogen determination showed the sediment to be 6.69%± 2.21% protein on a dry-weight basis. Almost all of the extractable material was identified as ellagic acid by high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The ellagic acid content of the wet sediment was 0.05 g/100 g, whereas it was 7.41 g/100 g in freeze-dried sediment. Tannase enzyme did not significantly decrease the concentration of ellagitannins in Marion blackberry (Rubus spp. Hyb.) juice in this study.

Cell lines and plants obtained after protoplast fusions of Rosa+Rosa, Rosa+Prunus and Rosa+Rubus

Protoplasts of three Rosa cultivars were fused with each other, with protoplasts of Prunus `Colt' and with protoplasts of Rubus laciniatus, using polyethylene glycol 4000 as a fusogen. Protoplasts of Prunus were incapable of cell division and those of Rosa and Rubus were disabled by treatments with metabolic inhibitors, either iodoacetate (IOA) or rhodamine 6-G (R6G). Parental protoplasts were then fused in combinations that required complementation for their survival. RAPD analysis of 41 fusion-derived cell lines showed that two lines resulting from fusions of Rosa + Rosa and one from a fusion of Rosa + Prunus, contained some DNA markers from both fusion partners. The others contained markers of only one fusion parent. This showed that after protoplast fusion, the heterokaryons did not develop into cell lines with stable hybrid nuclei. Plants regenerated from cell lines derived from Rosa + Prunus and Rosa + Rubus fusions contained DNA markers of only Rosa and their DNA amounts were no greater than that of the Rosa parent. However, they differed morphologically from the Rosa parent to a remarkable degree, possibly because they inherited undetected genes of Prunus or Rubus, or because they were somaclonal variants of the Rosa parent. Alternative strategies for the production of somatic hybrids are discussed.

First Report of Phragmidium violaceum Infecting Himalaya and Evergreen Blackberries in North America

Phragmidium violaceum occurs on several species of Rubus, including R. armeniacus, R. fruticosus agg., and R. laciniatus, in Europe, South Africa, Iran, and Iraq, and has been introduced as a biological control agent for invasive blackberries in Australia, New Zealand, and Chile. To our knowledge, this is the first official report of P. violaceum infecting Himalaya and evergreen blackberries in North America. Accepted for publication 16 September 2005. Published 23 September 2005.

Influence of Cultivar, Maturity, and Sampling on Blackberry (RubusL. Hybrids) Anthocyanins, Polyphenolics, and Antioxidant Properties

Total anthocyanin pigments increased from 74.7 to 317 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW) from underripe to overripe for Marion blackberries and from 69.9 to 164 mg/100 g FW for Evergreen blackberries. Total phenolics did not show a marked change with maturity with values slightly decreasing from underripe to ripe. Antioxidant activities, while increasing with ripening, also did not show the marked change that total anthocyanins exhibited. The impact of variation due to plots, subsampling, sample preparation, and measurement on Marion composition was examined in detail. Plot-to-plot and sample differences were the major contributors to variation, with sample preparation being an important contributor for some parameters. Measurement variation was a relatively small component of the total variation. Total anthocyanins for 11 blackberry cultivars ranged from 131 to 256 mg/100 g FW (mean = 198), total phenolics ranged from 682 to 1056 mg GAE/100 g FW (mean = 900), oxygen radical absorbance capacity ranged from 37.6 to 75.5 micromol TE/g FW (mean = 50.2), and ferric reducing antioxidant power ranged from 63.5 to 91.5 micromol TE/g FW (mean = 77.5).

Chemical Composition of Caneberry (Rubus spp.) Seeds and Oils and Their Antioxidant Potential

Caneberries (Rubus spp. L.) are grown primarily throughout the Pacific Northwestern United States and Canada. Processing of caneberry fruit typically removes the seed, and the development of a value-added use of seeds could expand the market for caneberries and the profit margins for growers. An initial step toward the use of the seeds is a characterization of seed and oil. Our investigation has described compositional characteristics for seeds of five commonly grown caneberry species: red raspberry, black raspberry, boysenberry, Marion blackberry, and evergreen blackberry. Seeds from all five species had 6-7% protein and 11-18% oil. The oils contained 53-63% linoleic acid, 15-31% linolenic acid, and 3-8% saturated fatty acids. The two smaller seeded raspberry species had higher percentages of oil, the lowest amounts of saturated fatty acid, and the highest amounts of linolenic acid. Antioxidant capacities were detected both for whole seeds and for cold-pressed oils but did not correlate to total phenolics or tocopherols. Ellagitannins and free ellagic acid were the main phenolics detected in all five caneberry species and were approximately 3-fold more abundant in the blackberries and the boysenberry than in the raspberries.

Polyphenolic Composition of Marion and Evergreen Blackberries

: The polyphenolics in aqueous extracts of Marion (Rubus sp. hyb) and Evergreen (Rubus laciniatus) blackberries and blackberry seeds were isolated by solid-phase extraction using C18 cartridges and polyamide mini-column chromatography, and characterized using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatogra-phy/diode array spectral techniques. Flavonols (primarily quercetin glycosides) were the major phenolics in berries, whereas procyanidins (catechin and epicatechin) and ellagic acid derivatives predominated in seeds. No flavonols were found in seeds. Evergreen berries contained higher level of epicatechin, ellagic acid derivatives, and flavonols than Marion berries, whereas Marion berries and seeds were higher in anthocyanins, total phenolics, and antioxidant properties as measured by oxygen radical absorbance capacity and ferric reducing antioxidant power.

Preliminary Aroma Comparison of Marion (Rubus spp. hyb) and Evergreen (R. laciniatus L.) Blackberries by Dynamic Headspace/OSME Technique

ABSTRACT: Marion and Evergreen blackberry aromas were analyzed with a purge‐and‐trap gas chromatography‐olfactometry/mass‐spectrometry (GC‐O/MS) technique. Fifty‐eight aromas were identified. Thirty were common to both cultivars, and 22 have not been previously reported in blackberry fruit. Comparison of cultivars shows the Marion blackberry contains more esters, while the Evergreen contains more alcohols. The aroma profile of blackberry is complex, as no single volatile was unanimously described as characteristically blackberry.

Antioxidant activity and phenolic content of Oregon caneberries.

Five types of caneberries [evergreen blackberries (Rubus laciniatus), marionberries (Rubus ursinus), boysenberries (Rubus ursinus x idaeus), red raspberries (Rubus idaeus), and black raspberries (Rubus occidentalis)] were analyzed for antioxidant activity by measuring their oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). In addition, the berries were analyzed for total phenolics, anthocyanins, procyanidins, and ellagic acid content. All of the berries had high ORAC activity ranging from 24 to 77.2 micromol of Trolox equiv/g of fresh berries. Anthocyanin content ranged from 0.65 to 5.89 mg/g, and phenolics ranged from 4.95 to 9.8 mg/g. Black raspberries had the highest ORAC and anthocyanin and phenolic contents. Only red raspberries had detectable amounts of procyanidin oligomers (monomer, dimers, and trimers). All berries had high levels of ellagic acid (47-90 mg/g), but boysenberries had the highest level prior to hydrolysis. The results from this study indicate that these caneberries were high in antioxidant activity and were rich sources of anthocyanins and phenolics.

A novel zwitterionic anthocyanin from evergreen blackberry (Rubus laciniatus Willd.).

A novel zwitterionic anthocyanin was isolated from evergreen blackberry (Rubus laciniatus Willd.) and structurally characterized as cyanidin 3-dioxalylglucoside. During short-term storage in acidified methanol, methyl esterification of the carboxyl group of the terminal oxalyl unit occurred, providing additional information for structural elucidation. Until now, oxalic acid as an acyl moiety of anthocyanins has been reported only in orchid flowers (Orchidaceae) but never in fruits or in the Rosaceae. This is the first report of an anthocyanin diacylated with oxalic acid, establishing a more widespread occurrence of anthocyanins substituted with aliphatic acids than hitherto believed.

Somaclonal Variation among ex vitro `Thornless Evergreen' Trailing Blackberries: The Morphological Status of Selected Clones after Seven Years of Field Growth

Chimeral `Thornless Evergreen' (CTE), (Rubus laciniatus Willd.) somaclones selected in 1983 and field planted in 1985 were reexamined in 1992 for various vegetative and reproductive characteristics. Two major types of thornless (prickle-free) plants, intermediate-sized (`UI 6-6' = `Everthornless') and dwarf (`UI 6-4'), originally selected from a chimeral thornless parent plant, were compared with thorny plants. The intermediate and dwarf somaclones have maintained their distinctive habits over 7 years' growth in the field, indicating that their growth habits are stable and not a transient effect of tissue culture. Although the thornless somaclones remained thornless, the degree and type of prickle-like structures varies considerably, indicating that the thornless gene (Ste) does not entirely suppress the production of prickles, but apparently alters their development. Increasing suppression was directly related to increasing dwarfism, suggesting a link between thornlessness and internode length.