The University of Florida joins research for genetic improvement of blueberries
A plant geneticist and food scientist, both with the University of Florida, will join a $ 12.8 million multi-state research grant to expand the nation's blueberry genetic improvement capabilities.
For the project, Patricio Muñoz, assistant professor of fruit and vegetable science at UF / IFAS and Charlie Sims, professor of food science and human nutrition at UF / IFAS will provide information on the genetic characteristics that are best for several blueberry cultivars. Scientists seek to improve taste, aroma and performance, among other features.
Muñoz will continue his experimental blueberry growth tests at the UF main campus in Gainesville, the UF / IFAS Plant Science Research and Education Unit in Citra, Florida, and at a commercial farm near Waldo, Florida. Sims will carry out panels to test the taste from its laboratory on the UF Gainesville campus.
The cultivation of UF / IFAS blueberries dates back to the 1940s. Recent blueberry cultivars developed by UF / IFAS include: Arcadia ™, Avanti ™ and Endura ™.
With approximately 5,000 ha, the Florida blueberry industry has an estimated value of US $ 82 million, according to the latest statistics from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Therefore, it is important that farmers grow the best possible berries.
“Blueberries have been recognized for their health benefits, which in part have fueled a large increase in consumption,” said Muñoz, the UF/IFAS blueberry grower. "But global competition is getting more intense and it's detrimental to our growers."
Sims will provide insight into which blueberry varieties consumers like best, and hopefully some characteristics associated with their preferences. “This will provide important information to breeders and geneticists in developing blueberry varieties that consumers prefer,” Sims said.
As UF / IFAS breeders have developed blueberry cultivars, they have focused on factors such as machine harvest, fruit quality and yield that can help producers remain profitable. However, with more intense competition, scientists need to develop fruit with exceptional flavor characteristics to help growers, Muñoz said.
“In this project, we will focus on this goal by exploring the genes that control the flavor of the fruit,” Muñoz said. “Exceptional tasting fruit will improve fruit consumption satisfaction and hopefully increase purchase frequency. All of this will be beneficial to all stakeholders involved in blueberries, from the nurseries that produce the plants, to the fruit growers, to the supermarkets that sell the fruit, to blueberry consumers."
In his program, Muñoz uses numerous methods to develop new varieties of blueberries. In all methods, scientists select the best genetic traits to help prevent diseases, pests, heat and drought, among other stressors.
Muñoz and Sims join researchers from North Carolina State University, who were awarded a grant from the US Department of Agriculture. From US $ 6.4 million for four years, and those funds are being matched, dollar for dollar, from various sources to study genetics and their use in the genetic improvement of blueberries. In addition to NC State and UF / IFAS, scientists from Oregon State University, Rutgers University, Michigan State University, University of Wisconsin, Washington State University, University of Georgia, Mississippi State University and the USDA are among the project participants.
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