CLIMATIC EFFECTS ON PRODUCTION AND QUALITY OF BILBERRIES (VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS)

Inger Martinussen1, Jens Rohloff2, Eivind Uleberg1, Olavi Junttila3, Anja Hohtola4, Laura Jaakola4 and Hely Häggman4

Effect of light conditions and temperature on production and quality

• 12 ◦C, 24 h light• 12 ◦C, 24 h light + red

light• 12 ◦C, 12 h light• 18 ◦C, 24 h light• 18 ◦C, 24 h light + red

light• 18 ◦C, 12 h light

• 2 Northern clones• 2 Southern

clones

Production at 12◦C

28 30 35 38 43 49 52 56 630

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

12◦C, 24 h light with addition of red light

S1S2N1N2

Berr

y w

eigh

t (g)

28 30 35 38 43 49 52 56 630

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

12◦C, 24 h light S1S2N1N2Be

rry

wei

ght (

g)

28 30 35 38 43 49 52 56 630

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

12◦C, 12 h light S1S2N1N2

Berr

y w

eigh

t (g)

Production at 18◦C

28 30 35 38 43 49 52 56 630

5

10

15

20

2518◦C, 24 h light S1

S2N1N2

Berr

y w

eigh

t (g)

28 30 35 38 43 49 52 56 630

2

4

6

8

10

12

1418◦C, 24 h light + red light

S1S2N1N2

Berr

y w

eigh

t (g)

28 30 35 38 43 49 52 56 630

5

10

15

20

2518◦C, 12 h light S1

S2N1N2

Berr

y w

eigh

t (g)

Berries are sweeter at low temperature (P=0.000 for clone and temp)

12C

24t

12C

24t

12C

24t+

R

12C

24t+

R

12C

12t

12C

12t

18C

24t

18C

24t

18C

24t+

R

18C

24t+

R

18C

12t

18C

12t

North

South

North

South

North

South

North

South

North

South

North

South

02468

10121416

% s

ugar

s

Higher content of acids at low temperature (P=0.000 for clone and temp, P=0.011 for light)

12C

24t

12C

24t

12C

24t+

R

12C

24t+

R

12C

12t

12C

12t

18C

24t

18C

24t

18C

24t+

R

18C

24t+

R

18C

12t

18C

12t

North

South

North

South

North

South

North

South

North

South

North

South

0

1

2

3

4

5

% a

cids

Total phenolic content higher in Northern clones (P=0.001)

12C

24t

12C

24t

12C

24t

+R

12C

24t

+R

12C

12t

12C

12t

18C

24t

18C

24t

18C

24t

+R

18C

24t

+R

18C

12t

18C

12t

North South

North South

North South

North South

North South

North South

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Tota

l phe

nols

(mg/

100g

)

Compound Temp Light Clone T*C L*CMalic acid *** ** ***Citric acid **Quinic acid *** *** *** *Fructose *** ***Glucose *** ***Sucrose *** ***Chiro-inositol ** *** ***Myo-inositol *** *** **Ascorbic acid **Gallic acid **Catehin *** *** ** *Epigallocatechin

* ***

Cetechin derivates

*** ***

Chlorogenic acid

*** *** *** ***

QuercetinTotal phenols ***Sugars % *** ***Acids % *** ** ***

Summary • At 12◦C the two Northern clones produced ripe berries 5 weeks after pollination, while the two Southern clones needed an extra two weeks to ripening.

• At 18◦C both the Northern and Southern clones had ripe berries from 5 weeks after pollination

• Berries produced at 12C had significantly higher % of sugars (sucrose, fructose and glucose), phenolic acids and total phenols than berries produced at 18C

• Breeding material should be selected based on evaluation of results achieved from the health benefit compounds of bilberry clones

• Environmental effects on berry quality will open the door for breeding specific clones for specific regions.

Thank you!

• Kirsten Jakobsen• Hermod Nilsen• Svein Erik Olsen• Nordic Innovation

Centre• Norwegian

Research Council