STUDIES ON THE HORTICULTURAL AND BREEDING VALUE OF SOME STRAWBERRY, RASPBERRY AND BLACKBERRY GENOTYPES Paulina Mladin, Mihail Coman, Irina Ancu, Gheorghe Mladin, Cosmina Diaconu, Emil Chiţu, Silvia Nicolae Research Institute for Fruit Growing Pitesti, Romania Abstract Strawberry, raspberry and blackberry are increasing in Romania and all over Europe. In order to optimize the variety choice for our ecological conditions and the best potential genitors for the breeding program, a study on the horticultural traits of 40 accessions was conducted from 2004 to 2007. The aim was to explore the variability among different accessions and select those having the best features for commercial, fresh market or fresh processing and also, the best potential genitors to improve the berry quality and stress resistance. The plant material consisted in commercial and new varieties and less known and advanced selections settled in three field trials, organized in randomized blocs. The genotypes were evaluated using individual measurements of some interest traits such as berry weight, size and firmness, drupelets number per fruit, soluble solids and total acidity content or, for each three plants for yield and rotten berries. Also, for other traits such as diseases, aphids, winter frost resistance, berry shape and color by a ranking scale (0-5). According to the evaluation, the best results were obtained with the strawberry varieties: Alba, Mira, Maya and Elsanta, both for yield and quality, Elsanta, Queen, Magic, Alba and Coral for berry firmness., Dar-8, Dar-24 and raspberry and blackberry varieties were outstanding for high frost resistance. The best features for the fresh market have shown:,,,,, VII-5/25 genotypes. Key words : yield, variety, selection, berry quality 1.Intoduction Since 2004, within the multidisciplinary research project-interberry co-ordinated by Instituto Agrario di San Michele (Italy) and the CEEX 20 Project, co-ordinated by RIFG Pitesti, a number of 37 accesions of Rubus and Fragaria with two major aims has beeen characterizing. The first is to identify the best cultivar for our local conditions for the fresh market and for the processing industry. The second it to identify the best genitors for the breeding program. The high and constant yield of the plants and the berry physical and chemical properties have been by far, the most important cultivars traits. Raspberry, strawberry and especially, blackberry under hard winters could be partially or entirely damaged (Botez et al., 1984) so, the yield could be decreased or lacked. The berry size, firmness, soluble solids and acidity content of fruits have been the most important traits of the quality, giving the suitability for fresh or processed consumption (Giongo et al., 2008). Mladin et al. (2003) and Mladin and Mladin (2008) reported data on raspberry and blackberry in Romania (2008). The purpose of this study was to show the horticultural and breeding value of some strawberry, raspberry and blackberry genotypes. 2.Material and methods Plant material consisted in 37 genotypes established in three variety trials. The Rubus and Fragaria plants under evaluation were chosen from commercial varieties and advanced selections of the raspberry breeding program, 5 (blackberry) to 10 plants (raspberry and strawberry) of each accession were planted in the replicated plots. During 2004-2007 the climate was characterized by very severe frosts, in the 2005 and 2006 winter (-24.4 C and -23.3 C) and mild in 2007 (9-10.0 C), warm summers and rainfalls of 1097.4 mm in 2005, 777.9 mm in 2006 and 464.7 mm in 2007, compairing with the 670.6 mm, multiannual mean. The genotypes were evaluated for a total of 48 descriptors, using a ranking scale for some traits and measurements for others. The yield per three plants in 3 replications for each year was recorded. Fruits 48
weight (g) of 20 single berries was measured for each picking, using 4 pickings in strawberries and raspberries and 5 in blackberries. Fruit size (mm) of 20 single berries in terms of diameter and height were measured with a digital caliper. Soluble solids content of berries was determined with a digital PR-32 refractometer and expressed in Brix content. Total acidity was measured by the titatrable method, expressed in malic acid and ph of fruits by digital ph-meter. Berries firmness was determined in 20 single berries for each picking with Shimpo Force Gauge fixed on manual leveler stand, FGS-5S model. 3.Results and discussions The analyses were conducted on 17 raspberry, 9 blackberry and 11 strawberry genotypes for the traits related to the yield and fruit quality. Phenological and other objective data together with subjective descriptors, 48 in total, were also set in a database in order to better exploit the large amount of information. A subset of some horticultural traits of raspberry varieties and selections are shown in figures 1 to 7. Using the Duncan s multiple range test one can easily identify the rank of the genotypes by their values for each characteristic. So, related to the plants yield, during the winters of 2005 and 2006, almost all raspberry and blackberry genotypes were damaged by the sever frost (-23.3-24.4 C) and no yield was recorded. The mean yield of 2004 and 2007 ranged from 375 g /3 plant to 1115 g /3 plants and,, and genotypes were the most productive. Other genotypes obtained a medium yield:,, Autumn Bliss,,,, (fig.1). With heavy berries, varieties such as:,,, were outstanding and with the largest size the,,, VII-5 P25 genotypes (fig. 2, 3, 4). Raspberries firmness ranged from 0.31 N with and to 0.55 N with and (fig. 5). 1300 Yield per 3 plants(g) 1200 1100 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 375 e 438 e range test (P 0.05) 438 e 500 de 525 de 588 de 663 cde 663 cde 688 bcde 720 abcde 750 abcde 750 abcde 900 abcd 1025 abc 1063 abc 1083ab 1115 a 300 Fig.1. Yield of raspberry genotypes (2004 and 2007) 49
5 Weight single fruit (g) Lenght single fruit (mm) Diameter single fruit (mm) 4,5 4 3,5 3 2,5 2 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 2,68 g 2,95 f 16,73 j 2,96 f 2,97 f 2,99 f 3,0 f 3,01 f 3,12 e 3,21 d 3,23 d 3,24 d 3,24 d 3,33 c 3,36 bc 3,42 b 3,57 a 3,6 a Fig. 2. Single berry weight of raspberry genotypes 17,03 i 14,19 h 15,1g 17,31 h 17,4 h 17,97 g 18,45 f 18,67ef 18,77 e 18,78 e 19,61 d 19,7 cd 19,81 cd 19,92 c 20,29b 20,51 b Fig. 3. Berry length of raspberry genotypes 16,96f 17,14f 17,23 f 17,99 e 18,16de 18,19de 18,24de 18,41cd 18,64b 18,68 b 18,68b 20,86 a 20,96a 18,74b Fig. 4. Berry diameter of raspberry genotypes 18,96 b 18,97b 19,64 a 50
0,72 Firmness (N) 0,62 0,52 0,42 0,32 0,22 0,12 0,02 0,3068 d 0,3113 d 0,3163 d 0,317 d 0,349 cd 0,3608 cfd 0,3635 cd 0,364 cd 0,3745 cd 0,3746 cd 0,3768 cd 0,3788 cd 0,394 bcd 0,423 bc 0,4698b 0,5518 a 0,5518 a Fig. 5. Berry firmness of raspberry genotypes The firmnest berries showed the following genotypes:,, VII-5 P25, and and the softest ones:,, and. The raspberry acidity varied from 14.5 meq/100 g to 28.9 meq/100 g. High berry acidity content accumulated, GL-H 1,,,, (fig. 6). RSR (Brix) TA (meq/100g) 12,5 12,0 11,5 11,0 10,5 33 28 23 18 13 14,55 i 19,21 h 19,269 h 20,87 gh 21,24 fgh 21,87 fg 22,05 fg 22,28 efg 22,39 efg 23,45 def 23,48 def 24,53 cde 24,97 cd 26,53 bc 26,53 bc 27,17ab 28,96 a Fig. 6. Berry acidity content of raspberry genotypes 10,3 e range test (P 0.05) 10,3 e 10,4 e 10,5 e 10,5 e 10,6 de 10,6 de 10,6 de 11,1 cd 11,1 cd 11,1 cd 11,2 c 11,4 b 11,6 ab 11,7 ab 11,9 a 12,1 a 10,0 9,5 9,0 Fig. 7. Berry soluble solids content of raspberry genotypes 51
4200 3700 range test (P 0.05) 3720 a Yield per 3 plants(g) 3200 2700 2200 1700 1280 c 1340 c 1400 c 1440 bc 1460 bc 1692 bc 1850 bc 2240 b 1200 Fig. 8. The yield of 3 plants of the blackberry cvs. 6,5 Weight single fruit (g) 6 5,5 5 4,5 4 3,5 3,59 f 3,7 f 4,41 e 4,65 d 4,69 d 4,71 d 4,99 c 5,25 b 5,58 a 3 Fig. 9. Berry weight of the blackberry cvs. 28 Lenght single fruit (mm) 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20,46 e 20,46 e 22,29 d 22,54 cd 22,73 cd 22,99 c 24,34 b 25,56 a 25,61 a 20 Fig. 10. Berry length of the blackberry cvs. 52
Berry soluble solids ranged in narrow limits, the highest values occurred for,,,, (fig. 7). The results of the blackberry varieties are shown in the figures 8-14. cv. was outstanding by the highest yield, followed by Lock Ness,,, and Dar-8 (fig. 8). Black Satin, Dar-8 and showed the highest berry weight (fig. 9),, and in berry width (fig. 11). Data recorded of the berry firmness, one of the most important traits for the fresh market, emphaisized on the first place Lock Ness cv., followed by Dar-24, and and on the last one cv. (fig. 12). The firmness data ranged on a relatively large scale (0.60-0.89 N). Berry soluble solids recorded large variation (11.4-14.9 Brix), the richest proving to be Dar-24, followed by and (fig. 13). In terms of acidity, Dar-24 recorded the highest value (26.3 meq/100 g), followed by, Lock Ness, Dar-8 (fig. 14). 24 Diameter single fruit (mm) 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 17,48 f 18,24 e 19,26 d 19,37 cd 19,71 c 19,72 c 20,38 b 20,39 b 21,11 a Fig. 11. Berry width of the blackberry cvs. Firmness (N) 1 0,95 0,9 0,85 0,8 0,75 0,7 0,65 0,6 0,55 0,5 0,6043 c 0,6055 c 0,6167 c 0,6428 c 0,6663 bc 0,7883 ab 0,7888 ab 0,8018 ab Fig. 12. Berry firmness of the blackberry cvs. 0,8968 a 53
16,0 15,0 14,0 range test (P 0.05) 13,4 c 13,7 bc 13,7 bc 13,9 b 14,1 b 14,9 a RSR (Brix) 13,0 12,0 11,4 e 12,0 d 12,1 d 11,0 10,0 Fig. 13. Berry soluble solids content of the blackberry cvs. 32 TA (meq/100g) 27 22 17 12,95 e 14,02 e 16,79 d 19,09 c 19,71 bc 19,88 bc 20,05 bc 21,06 b 26,3 a 12 Fig. 14. Total acidity of the blackberry cvs. Table 1. Strawberry mean yield under the climatic conditions of Maracineni-Pitesti NO. CULTIVAR/SELECTION KG / PLANT T/HA NO. OF PICKINGS 1 Magic 0.318 14.00 3 2 Elsanta 0.450 19.80 4 3 Premial 0.214 9.41 3 4 Winona 0.34 14.96 4 5 Onebor 0.21 9.24 4 6 Queen 0.540 23.76 5 7 Coral 0.420 18.48 4 8 Idea 0.380 16.72 5 9 Mira 0.600 26.40 4 10 Maya 0.580 25.52 4 11 Alba 0.62 27.28 4 54
NO. Table 2. The main fruit physical and chemical properties of the strawberry cvs. CULTIVAR MEAN WEIGHT (G) BERRY SIZE(CM) Height Width (cm) (cm) BERRY FIRMNESS GF SOLUBLE SOLIDS ( BRIX) BERRY PH 1 Magic 21.2 3.74 3.61 145.0 7.9 1.65 2 Elsanta 14.8 3.38 3.01 164.0 6.5 1.75 3 Premial 13.5 3.04 2.90 96.50 10.12 1.76 4 Winonna 13.9 3.34 2.83 88.7 9.0 1.70 5 Onebor 19.3 3.44 3.62 100.0 8.7 1.76 6 Queen 13.4 3.48 3.20 153.2 9.4 4.10 7 Coral 10.7 3.17 2.45 140.0 9.9 2.02 8 Idea 15.5 3.26 3.43 138.0 8.8 21.64 9 Mira 22.7 4.21 3.35 124.0 7.5 1.59 10 Maya 21.8 4.26 3.33 98.0 8.6 1.65 11 Alba 12.4 3.37 3.26 145.4 8.7 1.23 Data of strawberry evaluation are presented in the tables 1 and 2. The results showed that the cvs. Alba, Mira, Maya and Coral were the most productive (23.2 t/ha and 27.2 t/ha), while Onebor and Premial the less ones. The berries weight ranged in large limits, from 10.7 g to 22.4 g. Mira, Maya and Magic were characterized by the heaviest berries, followed by Onebor (19.3 g). The berry firmness varied from 88.7 gf to 163.0 gf. The firmnest berries showed Elsanta, Queen, Alba, Magic and Idea and the softest Winona, Premial and Maya. Related to the biochemical content of the strawberry, giving the fruit taste and technological value, this study emphasized Premial, Coral and Queen cvs. The highest soluble solids content had Queen with the highest ph (4.1), followed by Coral and Idea (2.02-2.16). 4.Conclusions After 3 and 4 years evaluation of the raspberry, blackberry and strawberry genotypes by their main yielding and quality traits one can conclude the following: -Citira,, VII-5/P 25 (Vely cv.), and for raspberry,, Lock Ness,,, and (Dar-8 cv.) for blackberry, and Alba, Mira, Maya and Coral for strawberry were the most productive under the local ecological conditions, -,,, VII-5 P25,,, D-24-99, Elsanta, Queen, Alba, Magic and Idea proved to be the most suitable for the fresh market. References Botez M., Botar A. and Bădescu Gh., 1984. Cultura arbuştilor fructiferi. Ed. Ceres. Bucureşti. Giongo L., Grisenti M., Eccher M., Grassi A., Palchetti A., Vrhosek U.,Gasperi F. and Mattivi F.,2008. Comparative study of Biological and Nutritional Traits of Rubus Genotypes Acta Horticulturae, no.777, pg. 109-115. Mladin P., Mladin Gh., Coman M., Isac V., Mutafa C., Perianu A., 2003. Studies regarding the new blackberry genotypes introduction into assortment. Lucrări ştiinţifice USAMV Bucureşti, Seria B, vol. XLVI, pg. 183-186. Mladin P. and Mladin Gh., 2008. Improvement of Raspberry cultivars in Romania. Acta Horticulturae, no. 777, pg. 115-119. Acknowledgements This study was partially financed by Interberry project (Fondo Unico per la Ricerca) Italy. 55