Genetic Parameters and Development of a Selection Index for Breeding Red Raspberries for Processing

Abstract

<jats:p>New commercial red raspberry (<jats:italic>Rubus idaeus</jats:italic>) cultivars suited to machine-harvesting and processing markets need to be high-yielding and have good fruit quality attributes, including fruit firmness, sugar content, acidity, flavor, and health properties. Combining many traits in one genotype is a challenge for breeders, especially for traits negatively correlated with yield. Despite its potential, the use of multiple-trait selection through selection indices has had limited application in fruit breeding. In this study, we estimated variance components, heritabilities, phenotypic and genetic correlations and breeding values for total yield (TYLD), harvest span, mid-harvest day and fruit quality traits, firmness (FIRM), soluble solids (SS), acidity (ACID), total anthocyanins (TACY), and total ellagitannins (TELG) from 1008 seedling genotypes based on 85 families derived from 45 parents harvested over three seasons in Washington state. Narrow-sense heritability estimates ranged from moderately low (0.22 for TYLD) to moderately high (0.73 for SS). All traits measured had positive genetic correlations with TYLD except for ACID (–0.35) and TACY (–0.28). Genotype × year (G×Y) interaction was high for TYLD and low for fruit quality attributes FIRM, SS, ACID, TACY, and TELG, and interactions were higher between the first (2009) and second (2010) seasons than between the second (2010) and third (2011) seasons. Using economic weights and breeding values derived from multivariate analysis for TYLD, FIRM, SS, and TACY, we constructed a selection index designed to assist with multiple-trait selection for population improvement and the development of commercial raspberry cultivars.</jats:p>

Anthocyanin, Carotenoid, Tocopherol, and Ellagitannin Content of Red Raspberry Cultivars Grown under Field or High Tunnel Cultivation in the Southeastern United States

“…Previous studies indicate that anthocyanin accumulation in red raspberry is primarily under genetic control, with some variation due to environmental factors (Anttonen and Karjalainen, 2005;Conner et al, 2005;Freeman et al, 2011;Kassim et al, 2009;Ozgen et al, 2008;Stephens et al, 2012). Consistent with these reports, the majority of differences in anthocyanin content or individual anthocyanins were found among cultivars in our study.…”

“…Ellagitannin content did not differ significantly between tunnel and field-cultivated samples. Stephens et al (2012) found ellagitannins in red raspberry to have moderate narrow-sense heritability estimates (h 2 = 0.46), and genotype • year correlations (r GY = 0.67), indicating that ellagitannin levels are primarily under genetic control. There was a cultivar • location interaction for Sanguiin H-6 content (P = 0.0094).…”

“Crispy” Blackberry Genotypes: A Breeding Innovation of the University of Arkansas Blackberry Breeding Program

“…This indicated that different environmental conditions for both years likely affected firmness and this was reflected in all three types of firmness measurements. As in other fruits, such as apple and red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.), firmness is a quantitative trait that is challenging to improve (Clark, 2005;Iwanami et al, 2008;Stephens et al, 2012).…”

Research Article Genetic parameters prediction (REML/BLUP) for morphological, physical-chemical, phytochemical, and mineral components of primocane-fruiting raspberries

“…The fruit size, expressed by its weight (FW), is a relevant commercial trait as yield and quality component (Bautista et al, 2017;Stephens et al, 2012a). This study revealed that 58% of FW expression is due to genetic effects, similarly to Bautista et al (2017) and González (2016), who observed moderate narrow sense heritability, ĥ 2 =0.48 and ĥ 2 =0.52, respectively, for this trait in raspberry.…”

“…The main objectives in the breeding programs for raspberries are related to high fruit quality, morphological traits, yield, suitability for market and machine harvesting, environmental adaptation, and pest and disease tolerance or resistance (Stephens et al, 2012a;Gambardella et al, 2016;Jennings et al, 2016;Moore et al, 2016;Orzel et al, 2016). Another breeding goal is to improve the content of phytochemical compounds such as anthocyanin, phenolic compounds, and soluble solids (Milivojevic et al, 2011;Stephens et al, 2012a;Orzel et al, 2016).…”