Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/18
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project are elderberry and aronia growers in the Northeast US. In addition, this project provides information for plum growers in the state of Maine. This project also provides information for elderberry, aronia and plum consumers in the state of Maine. Changes/Problems:The berry bushes sustained heavy deer damage for the 2017 and 2018 growing season. Due to the damage, no berries were obtained. Some plum varieties were not available for testing in the 2017 and 2018 growing season due to low rainfall and poor crop production Cell culture was not available until January 2018 and inflammation and health impact evaluation is still in progress. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?I attended Nutrition 2018 and presented 2 posters (Plums and Aronia) on the attenuation of inflammation., Boston, MA, June 2018. I graduated a PhD student that worked directly on the Aronia and Elderberry project, August 2018. I graduated 2 Master's students (2017, 2018) who worked on the plum project. An additional MS student who worked on the berry project graduated in 2015. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Data sheets were generated and provided to consummers and growers at the MaineAgricultural Trade show for years 2016, 2017 and 2018. I have also had personal communication with growers to help them with nutrition facts and developing value added products. 3 manuscripts have been published in peer reviewed journals and 2-4 more will be submitted in 2019. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The following was proposed for this project: 1. Establish 8-12 Elderberry bush varieties at Highmoor Farm and Littlefield Gardens for observation of growth and production in Maine's climate. 1. Evaluate cultivar hardiness, productivity and berry attributes. 2. Examine bioactives profiles from the varieties to determine which has the most enriched phytochemical profile. 3. Bioactives profile stability during processing 4. Value added product development with blueberry and/or other fruits 5. Bioavailability in an animal model (rodent) 6. Health effects in a rodent model (diabetes, obesity, oxidative stress)Additional work is currently being done to evaluate the use of Aronia pomace in muffins, fruit leather and smoothies. Years 1 and 2 of the project was focused on planting the Elderberry and Aronia bushes. There were ~120 Elderberry bushes of 14 different varieties planted. There were ~30 Aronia bushes planted from 4 different varieties. The bushes were observed for cold hardiness after each winter. During years 3, 4 and 5 the bioactive profiles were analyzed from the berries and for plums. In addition, value added products from the berries were made and evaluated. The plums were sensory tested to determine the most highly accepted varieties. Currently, additional work on developing value added products from Aronia pomace is ongoing. This is specifically in response to growers requests. For Year 5 the effects for plum and berry extracts to attenuate inflammation were partially analyzed. This work is ongoing. The cell culture work is still in progress to examine the effects of elderberry, aronia and plum extracts on inflammation. To date nitric oxide production has been evaluated and one cytokine. Total phenolics and antioxidant activity has been measured. The cytotoxicity of the extracts has been evaluated via MTT assay which looks at cell viability. Extramural funding was not secured. No animal work was done. The cell culture is a more cost effective way to analyze the potiential health impacts.
Publications
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Xue Du,PhD Dissertation Development of Kefir Products Using Aronia or Elderberries and the Impacts of Fermentation on the Health Promoting Characteristics of Aronia Polyphenols
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Myracle, A., Z. Castonguay, A. Elwell and R. Moran. Fruit quality and consumer acceptability of three plum types and 14 plum cultivars grown in Maine for a local market. HortTechnology 28(2):230-238, April 2018.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Du, X., Myracle, A.D. Fermentation alters the bioaccessible phenolic compounds and increases the alpha-glucosidase inhibitory effects of aronia juice in a dairy matrix following in-vitro digestion. Food and Function 9(5):2298-3007, May 2018.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Hwang, Hyeweon, Myracle, Angela d., Moran, Renae, Barbara Cole. Phenolic Phytochemicals and their Antioxidant Activities in European, Asian and American Hybrid Plums. To be submitted to the Journal of Food and Agriclture, To be submitted December 2018.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Renae Moran and Angela D. Myracle. Plum Variety Evaluation in Maine ⿿ Growing and Tasting. New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference, December 12-14, 2017, Manchester, NH. Note: This was an oral presentation by Renae Moran
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Angela D. Myracle and Xue Du. Polyphenol-rich extracts from different plums decrease the inflammation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophageslipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7. Nutrition 2018, June 9-12, 2018, Boston, MA.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Xue Du and Angela D. Myracle. Antioxidant capacity of Ascophyllum nodosume, Laminaria digitata, Alaria esculenta and the anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7. Nutrition 2018, June 9-12, 2018, Boston, MA.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Hyeweon Hwang, Barbara Cole, Raymond Fort, Angela Myracle, Renae Moran. Investigation of Phenolic Phytochemicals in Maine Grown Plums. ACS National Meeting and Expo, August 19-23, 2018, Boston, MA.
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Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Small farms, individuals interested in berries, producers of value added products are all target audiences for this project. This project will generate data that will help growers select berry bushes that are cold hardy and produce well in the Maine climate. Fact sheets will be generated to assist value added product producers understand nutrient and phytochemical content of the berries and products produced from the berries. Fact sheets will also be generated to help the general public understand the health benefits of berries (elderberry, aronia) when included in a healthy diet. Changes/Problems:I was not able to secure funding to do the animal experiments. I have establish a mammalian cell culture facility and will do testing of the berry extracts in the final year. Testing will be done using cell culture models for anti-inflammatory effects and dose response effects. The cell culture model will also be utilized to test for bioavailability in lieu of the rodent model. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?I attended the International Elderberry Meeting in Columbia, MO in 2013. I attended Institute of Food Technology annual meeting in July 2016 to present research findings (Chicago, IL). I attended Experimental Biology to present research in April 2017 (Chicago, IL). In addition, a PhD student and 2 MS students have been trained for reserach methods and manuscript preperation. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Fact sheets have been made and distributed at various agricultural events. I have worked with Tory Jackson to help establish a Maine Elderberry Growers Association. This was established in early 2017. I have provided information to this group and a larger grow trial has been established through Extension. This projected has resulted in three publications. One is accepted and two are in the submission phase What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Growth data for the final year will be collected. Since funding was not secured to do the animal studies, some cell culture testing will be done to evaluate the effects on inflammation.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Several varieties of elderberry bushes obtained from other states, MO, KS and NC, were planted in the Lyle E. Littlefield Ornamentals Trial Garden and observed for growth and winter survival. Several varieties that are known to produce well in ME were also planted. There have been only a few berries to date to test for total phenolic and anthocyanin content. The lack of berries was due to several factors: 1) the bushes do not reach full maturity for 3-5 years, 2) dry weather around harvest time, 3) birds consuming the berries and 4) loss of bushes due to poor winter survival. A frozen treat product was developed and sensory tested using the berries. This project identified that consumers like the elderberry and aronia when incorporated into a frozen treat and will be submitted for publication. In addition, the bioactives were measured in the products. A fermented kefir product where the berries were incorporated was developed and sensory tested. This study identified that consumers modestly liked the kefir product with the berries. In addition, the product was evaluated for antioxidant capacity. An additional study was done utilizing an in vitro digestion model to examine the fate of the bioactives in the digestive tract. A manuscript has been submitted for publication..
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Du X, Myracle AD: Development and evaluation of kefir products made with aronia or elderberry juice: Sensory and Phytochemical characteristics. International Food Research Journal, will be published 2018.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Evaluation of Sensory and Phytochemical Properties of Kefir Products Made with Aronia or Elderberry Juice. Xue Du and Angela Myracle
Submitted to Food and Function Dec 2018.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Du X, Myracle AD: Antioxidant Capacity and Stability of Phenolic Compounds in Aronia Kefir during in vitro Digestion. Faseb Journal 2017, 31. Presented poster at Experimental Biology April,2017.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Du X, Myracle AD: Evaluation of Sensory and Phytochemical Properties of New Kefir Products Incorporated with Aronia or Elderberry Juice. 2016, July 16.
Poster presented at IFT in July, 2016.
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Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Target Audience:Farmers in Maine who are interested in growing elderberry or aronia have been encouraged to visit the test garden established at the Littlefield test garden on the Orono campus. In 2016, there were 4 farmer visits to the garden and one interested party from Vermont. Test plot was also utilized to screen for plant diseases by extension that are specific for elderberry. The UMO plot was found to be clean of any disease. Changes/Problems:We utilized in vitro digestion studies to look and the bioactives metabolism and analysis since funding for an animal study has not been secured. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?harvest berries that are available from the 2017 growing season and perform bioactive analysis. Apply for additional funding to conduct animal studies. Prepare product development papers and in vitro digestion study papers.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
2016 was a very dry year and the berry crop was insufficient for any analysis. All plants were measured for growth and winter survival. Berry set was noted on a few plants. There was a small sample of berries from the 2015 harvest that are in the process of analysis. The elderberry plants have yet to reach maturity in order to fully analyze the berry production and or do bioactives analysis. The aronia plants have yet to produce more than a few berries and need additional time to mature. To date funding has not been secured to conduct animal studies. In vitro digestion studies have been done in 2016 to compensate for this gaol.
Publications
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Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:The aim of this project is to provide a resource to help local farmers obtain information on growing elderberries in Maine. This site provides a small scale planting so that they can see and evaluate row spacing, mulching and plant growth in order to better understand the investimant involved for their farm. This project also provides actual berries so that cluster size and yeild can be calculated. The planting is also collecting data on the varities that grow best in the Maine climate and how they survive over time. An additional benefit that has been added is that the berries can be sampled to better understand the flacor profile. This site also served as a sentinal site for testing for a virus that can affect elderberries. There have been several visits to the site by potiential growers during the 2015 growing season. Changes/Problems:This was not a major change, but Aronia melanocarpa (8 varieties) have been added to the project. This provides farmers with another berry species to evaluate. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project has provided the opportunity for 2 graduate students to develop and conduct sensory tests and to do labroatory analysis on the products developed with the berries. One Master's thesis has been produced and publications are currently in preperation. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?At this time, there have been some verbal communication with growers and an oral presentation and poster have been presented at a local graduate school conference. It is planned to create flyers that will be added to the extension site at the University of Maine on growing elderberries in Maine. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The laboratory analysis will be completed on the berries and the value-added products within the next 3-6 months. This work will yield 2 peer reviewed publications in 2016.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The project is preceeding as planned. To date, 11 varieties have been established. An additional variety was obtained but rooting was unsuccessful. Therefore, one more varity will be identified and planted in Summer 2016. Bioactive profiles are currently being evaluated for the individual berry varieties.. Overall there has been a 90% survival rate of the cultivars, but some varities are slower growing than others. Data has been collected on growth (bush height and berry weight). Height will be collected each year and bush growth evaluated. Berry weights were collected for the % varieties that were productive for the 2015 growing season. Elberberry variety Berry weight (kg) Goodbarn 3.8 York 11.6 Ranch 7 Bob Gordon 2.3 Johns 1.2 The elderberry bushes are still not mature and several other varieties are still too young to be productive. By year 5, the plants will be mature and actual yield data can be collected. In addition, 2 value-added products (a frozen treat and berry kefir product) both of which have been sensory tested (100 participants each panel) and bioactive profiles have been evaluated for content and stability of the anthocyainins.
Publications
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Small farms, individuals interested in berries, producers of value added products are all target audiences for this project. This project will generate data that will help growers select berry bushes that are cold hardy and produce well in the Maine climate. Fact sheets will be generated to assist value added product producers understand nutrient and phytochemical content of the berries and products produced from the berries. Fact sheets will also be generated to help the general public understand the health benefits of berryes (elderberry, aronia) when included in a healthy diet. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The project has provided opportunities for students to be trained in agricultural planting and maintainence of the bushes, laboratory skills development and value added product development and analysis. In addition, students and technicial staff have been trained to use laboratory equipment to benefit the berry analysis. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The next growing season will provide additional data on cold hardiness and growth for established plants. The 2015 harvest will be the initial analysis for the bioactives analysis of the berreis. Additional value added products will be developed wth the berries.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
To date, 11 varities of elderberry and 3 varities of aronia have been established in the Lyle Littlefield test garden on the UMaine campus at Orono. 3 variteis of aronia have been established at Highmoorfarm in Monmouth, ME. In addition, 5 additional cultivars of aronia have been rooted and will be planted in the spring of 2015. The overall total of bushes that will be in the collection by spring of 2015 is ~125. Frist year survival has been noted and was 98%. The plants are not mature at this time to collect berries for the bioactive analysis, this will be done after year three. To date, a very small harvest has been collected from the plants (less than 500gm from each variety of elderberry, none from aronia) and these berries will be utilized to develop assays in the laboratory for future bioactives analysis. Two products are currently under development; 1) a kefir product incorporating the berries and 2) an frozen ice treat utilizing the juice from the berries.
Publications
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