Development and implementation of an integrated phenotyping system to evaluate blueberry fruit texture characteristics at harvest and post-harvest

Authors: COE, KEVIN - North Carolina State University; POTTORFF, MARTI - North Carolina State University; GIONGO, LARA - Fondazione Edmund Mach; Bassil, Nahla; Luby, Claire; Mackey, Theodore - Ted; MUNOZ, PATRICIO - University Of Florida; FERRAO, FELIPE - University Of Florida; PERKINS-VEAZIE, PENELOPE - North Carolina State University; LORIZZO, MASSIMO - North Carolina State University

Submitted to: Plant Animal and Microbe Genomes Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/13/2023
Publication Date: 1/13/2023
Citation: Coe, K., Pottorff, M., Giongo, L., Bassil, N.V., Luby, C.H., Mackey, T.A., Munoz, P., Ferrao, F., Perkins-Veazie, P., Lorizzo, M. 2023. Development and implementation of an integrated phenotyping system to evaluate blueberry fruit texture characteristics at harvest and post-harvest. Plant Animal and Microbe Genomes Conference. Plant Animal Genome Conference, January 8-11, 2022 San Diego, CA.

Interpretive Summary: Increasing demand for blueberries has resulted in production in new environments and has led to the shipment of blueberries year-round. Of the fruit quality traits that are highly valued by consumers such as appearance, fruit flavor/taste, and texture, there is little to no information known regarding their genetic control. This, coupled with non-uniform shelf-life among different cultivars, highlights the need for genetic improvement of blueberry in order to meet industry demands and consumer preferences. We are using a machine called a texture analyzer that measures different fruit quality parameters. We measured these parameters shortly after harvest and again 6 weeks after harvest to determine which types maintained quality during cold storage. This method is currently being tested in northern highbush (NHB) blueberry breeding material in Oregon and southern highbush (SHB) blueberries in Florida. We aim to use this information to develop DNA tests that can assist breeders in developing blueberry varieties with fruits that have desirable texture characteristics and prolonged shelf-life.

Technical Abstract: Increasing demand for blueberries has resulted in production expansion to new environments and has led to the shipment of blueberries year-round. Of the fruit quality traits that are highly valued by consumers such as appearance, fruit flavor/taste and texture, there is little to no information known regarding their genetic control. This, coupled with non-uniform shelf-life among different cultivars, highlights the need for genetic improvement of blueberry in order to meet industry demands and consumer preferences. In order to achieve this goal, an integrated phenotyping system was developed to measure texture characteristics and traits associated with post-harvest shelf-life. A TA.XTPlus texture analyzer was used to perform destructive penetration tests 24 hours after harvest and 6-7 weeks post-harvest under cool storage conditions. In total, 25 traits, including those associated with fruit appearance, shelf-life, and texture were phenotyped for each berry. Additionally, storage performance for each genotype was determined by calculating the percent change and storage index of each trait between the two timepoints. A perl script is under development to efficiently export and clean raw phenotypic data for downstream statistical analyses. This integrated phenotyping system is currently being tested on a dataset comprised of northern highbush (NHB) blueberry genotypes in Oregon and southern highbush (SHB) blueberries in Florida. Future applications of this phenotyping method include identifying molecular markers associated with desirable texture characteristics and prolonged shelf-life.