Review of botanical characterization, growth preferences, climatic adaptation and human health effects of Ericaceae and Empetraceae wild dwarf shrub berries in boreal, alpine and arctic areas

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Interest in the wild berries of dwarf shrubs (wild berries) is increasing. Therefore, an update is important regarding how these species react to and interact with different climatic factors, and on how the predicted climatic changes will affect their distribution, growth and content of compounds affecting health. OBJECTIVE: To systemize knowledge of the Ericaceae and Empetraceae wild berry species. METHODS: A review of literature covering the above topics. CONCLUSION: This review includes five wild berry species and their subspecies: Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium vitisidaea, Vaccinium uliginosum, Vaccinium oxycoccos with ssp. microcarpon, and Empetrum nigrum with ssp. nigrum, hermaphroditum and japonicum. They have been and still are collected in the wild, by local households and industry. The berries have high content of biological compounds of interest for human health. Despite the increasing interest in and demand for these wild berries, domestication attempts have been rare. The species often grow together and are competitors. Which species dominate depends on soil conditions and is determined by small differences. The changing climate and various disturbances will also influence the distribution patterns of wild berries and competing plant species. Semi-cultivation in the natural habitat is probably the best solution for viable and sustainable commercial exploitation of these resources, at least if they are sold with the label "wild berries". However, these species are easily propagated by fresh cuttings, and they can grow on arable land, adapting soil conditions to fit their growing preferences. Such cultivation, to our knowledge has not yet been performed on a large economic scale.

Wild Sambucus nigra L. from north-east edge of the species range: A valuable germplasm with inhibitory capacity against SARS-CoV2 S-protein RBD and hACE2 binding in vitro

“…Chemical composition – e.g. , content of flavonols and anthocyanines can significantly vary in wild berry populations and can be influenced by inheritance, geographical origin, and environmental growth conditions among other factors ( Nestby et al, 2019 ). Geographical location also significantly affects the chemical composition of elderberry fruits ( Johnson et al, 2017 ; Senica et al, 2017 ), suggesting that S. nigra fruits and flowers from populations growing at extremes of the distribution range could hold valuable germplasm resource for S. nigra breeding.…”

In Vitro Propagation Strategies of Medicinally Important Berry Crop, Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.)

“…Lingonberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.; family Ericaceae) are evergreen dwarf, rhizomatous, circumboreal woody shrubs [1]. They grow on heath areas on rocky places and dry peat soils and are economically important berry species to northern regions of the world [2]. There are many common names of lingonberries depending on regional nomenclature, such as partridgeberry or redberry in Newfoundland and Labrador; foxberry in Nova Scotia of Canada; airelle rouge in France, tytlebaer in Germany; puolukka in Finland; cowberry in Britain; kokemomo in Japan; and rock, mountain, dry ground or low bush cranberries and linberry in other parts of Canada and Alaska [3][4][5].…”

Seasonality in Human Interest in Berry Plants Detection by Google Trends

“…Such a keyword with relatively clear associations with specific phenomena enables temporal and spatial variation in RSV to be validated with biological observation (Proulx et al, 2014). However, time series or statistics data usable for a validation source for the seasonal pattern of human interest in berry species were the indirect explanatory factor: for example, supply in the agricultural markets and retail stores, routine observation at botanical gardens or institutes (e.g., Roslin et al, 2021), and climate conditions affecting berry growth (e.g., Krebs et al, 2009;Nestby et al, 2019;Tahvanaian et al, 2019) in the target area. Event dates that cue people to make an internet search for berries (e.g., festivals featuring specific berries and announcement of wild berry harvesting periods from local government in Russia) are considered a regionally specific condition.…”

“…Plant phenology, or seasonality, can affect human behavior in various ways, reflecting human interaction with specific plants (Platton and Henfrey, 2009;Spark et al, 2012). Wild berries growing in the boreal, subarctic and Arctic ecosystems benefit both humans and wildlife (e.g., Nestby et al, 2019). They are part of essential ecosystem services and provide material resources such as nonwood forest products (e.g., Turtiainen and Nuutinen, 2012;Sorrenti, 2017) and social-cultural services of recreation, culture, and livelihoods when harvested by rural and urban residents (Kangas and Markkanen, 2001;Stryamets et al, 2015).…”