ISHS Acta Horticulturae 649: Euro Berry Symposium - Cost 836 Final Workshop
GENE BANK AND BREEDING FOR CANE AND BUSH FRUIT CROPS |
| Authors: | V. Trajkovski, S. Pluta, I. Hjalmarsson |
| Keywords: | cane fruit, bush fruit, conservation, breeding, products |
| Abstract:
European countries have the disposal of unique heritage of invaluable cane and bush fruit Plant Genetic Resources (PGR). This is due to old growing traditions and presence of important indigenous gene pools, foremost Rubus (raspberry and blackberry), Ribes (currants and gooseberry) and Vaccinium (blueberry and lingonberry). We also have a common interest to use this heritage for breeding and future sustainable production. The paper suggest an online information platform for cane and bush fruit PGR to support, unit and optimize on-going conservation projects in Europe, i.e. to harmonize description and evaluation work in order to facilitate exchange of data and genetic resources for breeding and other purposes. It is important to have common methods for how to select material for preservation in gene banks. Each country is recommended to define its own heritage, i.e. cane and bush fruit varieties originating in the country or having a long local growing tradition. In addition regional system for safety back ups and duplicates, either in filed or in vitro, should be established. The most recent technique, cryopreservation, provides the possibility to store material in liquid nitrogen (LN) for long periods. Applied breeding programs of cane and bush fruits have been carried out in different breeding centers in Europe. In practice they have their own working collections of different species. The main breeding aims and directions are breeding for high yield and berry quality as well as breeding for adoption to climate, soil conditions and mechanical harvest. Breeders collections should preferable be kept apart from the historic gene bank material. However, both types of collections as well as preserved wild material should be subject to on-going research with the aim of bringing the material to use. Only well characterized genetic resources can be used efficiently in breeding and research projects. It is eligible that both old and new varieties should be analyzed for alternative usages since cane and bush fruits have potentials as health promoting products. | |
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