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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » National Clonal Germplasm Repository » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #310217
Title: Genotyping and phenotyping heat tolerance in black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis L.)

Author
item BRADISH, CHRISTINE - North Carolina State University
item FERNANDEZ, GINA - North Carolina State University
item DOSSETT, M. - Agriculture And Agri-Food Canada
item Bushakra, Jill
item Bassil, Nahla
item Finn, Chad

Submitted to: Acta Horticulturae
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/26/2016
Publication Date: 11/26/2016
Citation: Bradish, C.M., Fernandez, G.E., Dossett, M., Bushakra, J., Bassil, N.V., Finn, C.E. 2016. Genotyping and phenotyping heat tolerance in black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis L.). Acta Horticulturae. 1127:321-324. doi: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2016.1127.50.

Interpretive Summary: Demand for raspberry continues to grow on the East Coast; however commercial production in the Southeast is difficult because cultivars are not well adapted to the warm climate, where average summer temperatures range from 30-35°C. Recent research about the health benefits of secondary metabolites in black raspberry led to a resurgence of interest and breeding efforts in this crop. Two related black raspberry families were evaluated in south-central North Carolina using a non-invasive measure of heat tolerance. Readings were taken thrice on fully expanded leaves from non-fruiting canes during August 2013. Preliminary data collected from these families showed normal distribution for this measure. Additional phenotyping will take place in upcoming years, in addition to identifying DNA regions that are associated with the heat tolerance trait. Ultimately, we hope to gain a better understanding of heat tolerance in raspberry to make development of commercial quality cultivars a possibility in the Southeast.

Technical Abstract: Demand for raspberry continues to grow on the East Coast; however commercial production in the Southeast is difficult because cultivars are not well adapted to the warm climate, where average summer temperatures range from 30-35°C. Recent research about the health benefits of a polyphenolic-rich diet has led to a resurgence of interest and breeding efforts in black raspberry. Two related full sib black raspberry populations, designated ORUS 4304 (192 progeny) and ORUS 4305 (115 progeny) were evaluated in south-central North Carolina (elevation 191m, harvest season daily highs/lows 31/20°C) using chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) as a phenotypic measure of heat tolerance. Fv/Fm is a non-invasive measurement of thylakoid damage to photosystem II, which has been used to quantify heat tolerance in many annual and perennial plants. Readings were taken thrice on fully expanded primocanes (non-fruiting canes) leaves during August 2013. Data collected from the populations show normal distribution for Fv/Fm. Additional phenotyping will take place in upcoming years, and using a forward genetics approach, we will determine QTL for heat tolerance within black raspberry based on linkage map assembly of population 4304. Ultimately, we hope to gain a more complete understanding of heat tolerance in raspberry to make breeding commercial quality cultivars a possibility in the Southeast.