Genetic Diversity of Blueberry Genotypes Estimated by Antioxidant Properties and Molecular Markers

Abstract

Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) have gained much attention worldwide because of their potential health benefits and economic importance. Genetic diversity was estimated in blueberry hybrids, wild clones and cultivars by their antioxidant efficacy, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and express sequence tag–simple sequence repeat (SSR) (EST–SSR), genomic (G)–SSR and express sequence tag–polymerase chain reaction (EST–PCR) markers. Wide diversity existed among the genotypes for antioxidant properties, with the highest variation for DPPH radical scavenging activity (20-fold), followed by the contents of total flavonoids (16-fold) and phenolics (3.8-fold). Although a group of 11 hybrids generated the maximum diversity for antioxidant activity (15-fold), wild clones collected from Quebec, Canada, had the maximum variation for total phenolic (2.8-fold) and flavonoid contents (6.9-fold). Extensive genetic diversity was evident from Shannon’s index (0.34 for EST–SSRs, 0.29 for G–SSR, 0.26 for EST–PCR) and expected heterozygosity (0.23 for EST–SSR, 0.19 for G–SSR, 0.16 for EST–PCR). STRUCTURE analysis separated the genotypes into three groups, which were in agreement with principal coordinate and neighbour-joining analyses. Molecular variance suggested 19% variation among groups and 81% among genotypes within the groups. Clustering based on biochemical data and molecular analysis did not coincide, indicating a random distribution of loci in the blueberry genome, conferring antioxidant properties. However, the stepwise multiple regression analysis (SMRA) revealed that 17 EST–SSR, G–SSR and EST–PCR markers were associated with antioxidant properties. The study is valuable to breeding and germplasm conservation programs.

Relationship between Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity in Berries and Leaves of Raspberry Genotypes and Their Genotyping by SSR Markers

“…When used in food, polyphenols protect the body from oxidative stress considered to be the common mechanism for the occurrence and progression of the most widespread chronic diseases, thereby contributing to the prevention of cardiovascular, cancer, and inflammatory diseases [ 9 , 10 ]. Of particular interest are anthocyanins which, unlike other flavonoids that are colorless or yellow-colored, are pigment molecules that give attractive colors to flowers and fruits [ 11 ]. In edible plants, red, blue, or purple berries are some of the most important sources of anthocyanins [ 12 ].…”

“…In recent years the main direction of its breeding has changed from agronomic traits (yield and tolerance to stresses) to fruit quality (sensorial and nutritional) [ 26 ]. Knowledge of the genetic diversity in relation to phenolic content in the raspberry germplasm can be used to develop breeding programs by choosing optimal combinations of parents [ 11 ]. However, biochemical characteristics alone are not sufficient to confirm genetic diversity.…”

“…However, little is known about the relationship between molecular markers and antioxidants. As far as we are aware, the relationships between polyphenol content and genetic diversity have been studied only in the grape [ 29 ], cranberry [ 34 ], and blueberry [ 11 ]. Furthermore, these and other studies have used markers randomly distributed throughout the genome but not associated with specific metabolic pathways.…”

Insight into the antioxidant activities of ten Fabaceae plant species that are medicinally used by the Aucan Tribal Peoples from the Republic of Suriname (South America)

“…Notwithstanding, the reasons for the differences of the results from the current study with those mentioned in the literature are not clear. Possible explanations may include variations in species, strains, or varieties used; growing conditions of the plants; stages of maturity at which the plant parts have been harvested; the ways the plants have been processed; and/or the analytical methods applied to assess them for the various pharmacological activities [80][81][82][83]. These differences may well lead to dissimilarities in the concentration of certain phytochemicals including those with antioxidant activity [80][81][82][83], but this supposition must be verified in future studies.…”

Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties of Plant Extracts

“…However, it must be taken into account that the content of polyphenols in plants varies remarkably between species, geographical area, part of the plant tested, etc. In this sense, Bhatt and Debnath [2] studied, in blueberries (Vaccinium spp. ), the genetic diversity of antioxidant properties in relation to the total phenolic and flavonoid content, and associated with molecular markers.…”