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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Production and Genetic Improvement Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #399694
Research Project: Genetic Improvement of Blackberry, Red and Black Raspberry, Blueberry, and Strawberry

Location: Horticultural Crops Production and Genetic Improvement Research Unit

Title: Marker Assisted Selection and Genomic Prediction in Blueberries through the Breeding Insight Initiative

Author
item HISLOP, LILLIAN - Orise Fellow
item Hardigan, Michael
item SHEEHAN, MOIRA - Cornell University
item ZHAO, DONGYAN - Cornell University
item Luby, Claire

Submitted to: Northwest Center for Small Fruit Research Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/10/2022
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The USDA-ARS blueberry breeding program in Corvallis, OR is conducting research into blueberry genetics. This talk is to outline the data on fruit quality and plant structure traits generated so far and the results found.

Technical Abstract: The objective of this research project is to develop and implement molecular markers for blueberry breeders to use to speed up the breeding process, and ultimately assist growers in the Pacific Northwest through improved cultivar development. The USDA-ARS blueberry breeding program in Corvallis, OR is working with Breeding Insight (BI) Initiative to genetically analyze a diverse population of blueberries with marker assisted selection and genomic prediction. The initiative supports genetic information collection and interpretation. It also provides breeding software and technologies to enhance and speed up breeding pipelines. Marker data was collected for 5166 genetically unique individuals from 85 biparental families through the Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) marker platform, interrogating 3000 genetic loci. Fruit quality and plant physiology traits were measured over three seasons, such as brix, acidity, firmness, plant height, post-harvest quality, and ripening time. The plant observations identified new selections for the USDA blueberry breeding program, with an emphasis on unique and superior fruit qualities. Expected outcomes are publicly available molecular markers applicable to regionally adapted blueberry plants for use by breeders. This work will benefit all blueberry growers, especially those in the Pacific Northwest region where the blueberry industry is relatively new and growing rapidly by accelerating cultivar development.