BREEDING AND GENETICS OF SMALL FRUITS AND GRAPES IN ARKANSAS

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1001059
• Project Start Date: Oct 1, 2013
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2018
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
(N/A)
FAYETTEVILLE,AR 72703

Performing Department
Horticulture

Non Technical Summary
Cultivars of small fruit crops and grapes usually have more narrow limits of geographic adaptation than cultivars of other fruit species. It is valuable to have an active breeding program for the development of cultivars uniquely adapted to its particular growing conditions. There continues to be broad interest in the production of small fruit and grape crops in Arkansas. New acreages of blackberries have been widely established in the state, and grapes continue to be grown in several areas. The high economic returns per acre of these crops make them attractive as alternatives for crops providing marginal returns. These crops are ideally adapted for small farm enterprises and do well on marginally fertile soils. In addition, these small fruit crops have fewer pest problems than other fruits, and can be successfully produced with minimum pesticide usage. Public interest continues in the area ofantioxidant or nutraceutical value of foods. Berry crops and grapes have garnered great attention in this area for their antioxidant value. The evaluation of antioxidant levels in Arkansas berries has begun and is intended to continue as a key area of investigation. In order for the small fruit industries of Arkansas to remain viable and reach their full potential, new cultivars will be needed. The development of erect thornless blackberries has stimulated renewed interest in hand-harvested blackberries, but additional cultivars are needed to expand the harvest period. Several diseases currently threaten all the small fruit crops, and the incorporation of genetic resistance into adapted cultivars is imperative for a stable fruit industry to be developed and sustained. A more recent area of intense improvement in the Arkansas blackberry breeding program has been the primocane-fruiting trait. The University of Arkansas released the first primocane-fruiting varieites in 2004 Prime-Jan and Prime-Jim, followed by Prime-Ark 45 and Prime-Ark Freedom. Many more cultivars will be forthcoming from this effort, and this type of blackberry could revolutionize blackberry production in the world. Grapes have been a major fruit crop in Arkansas for over 100 years. Traditionally, most of the Arkansas grape production was used for the manufacture of wine or unfermented juice. A small table grape industry was founded on the seedless cultivars 'Venus', 'Reliance', 'Mars', and 'Saturn' developed by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, and local market use of new cultivars has expanded potential. Muscadine grapes have been grown in Arkansas for many years. Research in Arkansas has been limited to cultivar testing resulting in both fresh and processing use. In 2005 a small breeding effort was begun in muscadine cultivar improvement. The first selections were made in 2008. Subsequent crosses have yielded several thousand seedlings for future evaluation. Cultivars of bunch and muscadine grapes will need continual improvement for Arkansas to remain economically competitive with other grape growing regions. The present and future cultivar needs for sustaining viable small fruit and grape industries in Arkansas can be met by genetic improvements made in a well organized hybridization/selection program. The output of new cultivars will best address industry needs.

Animal Health Component

65%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

0%

Applied

65%

Developmental

35%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
202	1129	1081	40%
201	1129	1080	15%
202	1130	1081	20%
201	1139	1081	25%

Knowledge Area
202 - Plant Genetic Resources; 201 - Plant Genome, Genetics, and Genetic Mechanisms;

Subject Of Investigation
1129 - Berries and cane fruits, general/other; 1139 - Grapes, general/other; 1130 - Table grapes;

Field Of Science
1081 - Breeding; 1080 - Genetics;

Keywords

small fruits

grapes

vitis

rubus

disease resistance

fruit breeding

fruit quality

antioxidant evaluation

Goals / Objectives
The overall goal of this project is to develop new cultivars of small fruits and grapes. An additional goal is to enhance knowledge of genetics and breeding procedures with small fruits and grapes. Specific objectives are: 1. To develop both thorned and thornless (with primary emphasis on thornless) blackberry cultivars adapted to the upper South which are suitable for hand harvest. Emphasis will be placed on erect plant growth habit, primocane fruiting, high productivity, good fresh and processed quality, large fruit size, firm fruit for shipping ability, small seed size, tolerance to low winter temperatures, heat tolerance of primocane-fruiting types, and resistance to major diseases. 2. To develop adapted, high quality, attractive, hardy, seedless table grapes, with long shelf life and ability to be transported to distant markets in good condition. 3. To test existing wine grape selections for processing quality and viticulture adapted to Arkansas. 4. To develop adapted, enhanced quality, winter hardy muscadine cultivars adapted to the regions of Arkansas from the Arkansas River valley and southward. 5. To evaluate antioxidant levels of small fruit genotypes developed in the program. 6. To conduct genetic investigations on these crops to elucidate new information on the inheritance of important fruit and plant characters and to use that information to expedite breeding progress.

Project Methods
Hybridizations will be continued on blackberries and muscadine grapes using as parent material the most promising clones available. New genetic acquisitions will be made as they become available and evaluated for genes of potential value in breeding. Seed germination procedures previously shown to ensure maximum seedling emergence will be used. Seedlings will be grown to fruiting age and evaluated for their potential as new cultivars or for use in further breeding. Promising selections will be established in replicated test plantings in two locations in Arkansas for area adaptability. Advanced selections will be propagated and made available to experiment stations in other states for regional tests. Selections from the table grape breeding effort begun in 1964 will be further evaluated for potential release, although hybridizations will not be continued for this crop. Evaluations of selections and cultivars for antioxidant content will be conducted with the cooperation of the Department of Food Science, University of Arkansas. Additionally, postharvest handling potential of selections will be a major focus in the evaluation process. Genetic studies will be conducted, using appropriate experimental procedures, as needed to facilitate and expedite the cultivar development program.

Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:The breeding program targets producers of small fruit crops and grapes. The primary group is Arkansas producers but the breeding program products impact growers in the region, nationally and internationally. Growers include those for local markets and shipping/ commercial markets. Additionally the processing market for wine is a target. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One PhD student continues in a degree program with muscadine grapes a portion of the dissertation research. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Yes, results are provided in grower meetings, journal articles, newsletter articles, youtube videos and other forms of communication. Youtube viewings are provided below of release varieties Name of video Views Prime-Ark™ Freedom 36,687 Natchez Blackberry 24,953 Ouachita Blackberry 19,502 Prime-Ark™ 45 13,589 Prime-Ark™ Traveler 14,407 Osage Blackberry 11,109 Joy Grape 3,512 Jupiter Grape 3,201 Faith Grape 3,228 Gratitude Grape 3,025 Neptune Grape 2,713 Hope Grape 2,727 Enchantment Wine Grape 908 Opportunity Wine Grape 739 Compassion Table Grape 389 What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Crossing of a range of blackberry selections was accomplished in 2018. A total of 70 plus crosses were made yielding over 300,000 seeds. Seedlings form 2017 crosses totaled over 8,000 that were field planted. Seedlings from 2014, 2015 and 2016 were evaluated, totaling near 10,000 seedlings, and yielded numerous very promising selections. Muscadine grape crossing included 20 hybridizations. Seedlings planted in 2018 totaled over 150000. Muscadine seedlings from 2014 and 2015 crosses yielded 13 new selections. The blackberry selection A-2428T was in final evaluation for cultivar release at the end of the reporting period. Enchantment wine grape had the first commercial bottling in 2018.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Clark, J.R., T. Ernst, A.J. Vance, and B.C. Strik. 2018. ⿿Compassion⿿ seedless table grape. HortScience 53:401-401.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Clark, J.R., A. Salgado, A. Draper, C.E. Finn, P. Sandefur, and P. Boches. 2018. ⿿Norman⿿ southern highbush blueberry. HortScience 53:737-740.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Clark, J.R., J.N. Moore, J.R. Morris, and R. Threlfall. 2018. ⿿Opportunity⿿ and ⿿Enchantment⿿ wine grapes for the upper South of the United States. HortScience 53:1208-12011.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Felts, M., R.T. Threlfall, J.R. Clark, and M.L. Worthington. 2018. Physiochemical and descriptive sensory analysis of Arkansas muscadine grapes. Hortscience 53:1570⿿1578. 2018. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI13296-18.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Segantini, D.M., R.T. Threlfall, J.R. Clark, L.R. Howard, and C.R. Brownmiller. 2018. Physiochemical changes in floricane and primocane blackberries harvested from primocane genotypes. HortScience 53:9-15.

Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:The breeding program targets producers of small fruit crops. The primary group is Arkansas producers but the breeding program products impact growers in the region, nationally and internationally. Growers include those for local markets and shipping/ commercial markets. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One MS student Melinda Yin continued research on blackberry phenotyping for use in molecular marker development and graduated in 2017. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Yes, results are provided in grower meetings, journal articles, newsletter articles, youtube videos and other forms of communication. Youtube viewings are provided below of release varieties: Prime-Ark™ Freedom 9,158 Prime-Ark™ Traveler 5,757 Natchez Blackberry 5,332 Ouachita Blackberry 4,441 Prime-Ark™ 45 2,373 Osage Blackberry 1,941 Joy Grape 797 Jupiter Grape 643 Faith Grape 604 Neptune Grape 549 Hope Grape 535 Gratitude Grape 498 Enchantment Wine Grape 353 Opportunity Wine Grape 272 What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Breeding program activities will continue in 2018 with crossing, selection, and evaluation of selections for cultivar release of muscadine and blackberries. Selection testing of blueberries and table grapes will be continued. Associated studies in various areas will continue also.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Crossing of a range of blackberry selections was accomplished in 20176. A total of 73 crosses were made yielding over 200,000 seeds. Seedlings form 2016 crosses totaled over 3,000 that were field planted. Seedlings from 2014 and 2015 were evaluated, totaling near 10,000 seedllings, and yielded over 30 selections. Muscadine grape crossing included 15 hybridizations. Seedlings planted in 2016 totaled over 2000. Muscadine seedlings from 2013 and 2014 crosses yielded 15 new selections. The table grape variety Passion was released.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Segantini, D.M., R.T. Threlfall, J.R. Clark, C.R. Brownmiller, L.R. Howard, and L.J.R. Lawless. 2017. Changes in fresh-market and sensory attributes of blackberry genotypes after postharvest storage. J. Berry Research 7:129-145. Vance, A.J., B.C. Strik, and J.R. Clark. 2017. Table grape performance in Oregons Willamette Valley. J Amer. Pomol. Soc. 71:240-249.

Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:The breeding program targets producers of small fruit crops. The primary group is Arkansas producers but the breeding program products impact growers in the region, nationally and internationally. Growers include those for local markets and shipping/ commercial markets. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One MS student Melinda Yin continued research on blackberry phenotyping for use in molecular marker development. Two BS students conducted undergraduate research projects on blackberries. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Yes, results are provided in grower meetings, journal articles, newsletter articles, youtube videos and other forms of communication. Youtube viewings are provided below: Name of VideoTotal Viewings: 2016 Prime-Ark® Freedom 9,448 Natchez Blackberry 5,685 Ouachita Blackberry 3,875 Prime-Ark® Traveler 2,967 Prime-Ark® 45 2,800 Osage Blackberry 2,342 Jupiter Table Grape 676 Joy Table Grape 656 Hope Table Grape 559 Faith Table Grape 546 Neptune Table Grape 537 Gratitude Table Grape 460 Enchantment WineGrape 215 Opportunity Wine Grape 192 What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Breeding program activities will continue in 2017 with crossing, selection, and evaluation of selections for cultivar release. Associated studies in various areas will continue also.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Crossing of a range of blackberry selections was accomplished in 2016. A total of 68 crosses were made yielding over 170,000 seeds. Seedlings form 2015 crosses totaled over 9,000 that were field planted. Seedlings from 2012, 2013, and 2014 were evaluated, totaling near 20,000 seedllings, and yielded 60 selections. Sensory research was continued on blackberry cultivars and selections to determine consumer preferences and results indicated that panelists could differentiate sourness more easily than sweetness, and a large range of findings were recorded on sensory identifiers. Muscadine grape crossing included 14 hybridizations. Seedlings planted in 2016 totaled 2100. Muscadine seedlings from 2012 and 2013 crosses yielded 32 new selections. Two wine grapes were released, Enchantment and Opportunity.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Clark, J.R. 2016. Breeding southern blackberries: Idea to industry. Acta Hort. 1133:3-11.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Clark, J.R. and A. Salgado. 2016. Prime-Ark� Traveler primocane-fruiting thornless blackberry for the commercial shipping market. HortScience 51:12871293.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Salgado, A. and J. R. Clark. 2016. Crispy blackberry genotypes: A breeding innovation of the University of Arkansas blackberry breeding program. HortScience 51:468-471.

Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:The breeding program targets producers of small fruit crops. The primary group is Arkansas producers but the breeding program products impact growers in the region, nationally and internationally. Growers include those for local markets and shipping/ commercial markets. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?One PhD student Alejandra Salgdo completed work on firmness of unique crispy blackberries in the program and provided resutls from her work at three professional meetings and in her dissertation. MS student Melinda Yin began research on blackberry phenotyping for use in molecular marker development. Two BS students conducted undergraduate research projects on blackberries. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Grower and professional meetings had information shared on various groups in Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, Missour. Visitors to the Fruit Research Station viewed various projects in the small fruit breeding program. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Breeding program activities will continue in 2016 with crossing, selection, and evaluation of selections for cultivar release. Associated studies in various areas will continue also.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Crossing of a range of blackberry selections was accomplished in 2015. A total of 63 crosses were made yielding over 170,000seeds. Seedlings form 2014 crosses totaled 3,100 that were field planted. Seedlings from 2011, 2012, and 2013 were evaluated, totaling near 20,000 seedllings, and yielded 70 selections. A new thornless blackberry plant named Prime Ark Traveler was released (Dec. 2014). It has commercial shipping potential along with thornless canes and the unique primocane-fruiting character. Sensory research was undertaken on blackberry cultivars and selections to determine consumer preferences and results indicated that panelists could differentiate sourness more easily than sweetness, and a large range of findings were recorded on sensory identifiers. Muscadine grapecrossing included 16 hybridizations yielding 7000 seeds. Muscadine seedlings from 2011 and 2012crossesyielded 30 new selections. Norman southern highbush blueberry was released.

Publications

• Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Stafne, E.T., S. Sleezer, and J.R. Clark. 2015. Grapevine breeding in the southern U.S. pg. 379-410. In: A.G. Reynolds (ed.). Grapevine breeding programs for the wine industry. Elsevier/Woodhead Publishing Ltd.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Barchenger, D.W., J.R. Clark, R.T. Threlfall, L.R. Howard, and C.R. Brownmiller. 2015. Evaluation of physiochemical and storability attributes of muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia Michx.). HortScience 50:104-111. Barchenger, D.W., J.R. Clark, R.T. Threlfall, L.R. Howard, and C.R. Brownmiller. 2015. Nutraceutical changes in muscadine grape and grape segments during storage. J. Amer. Pomol. Soc. 69:66-73.

Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14

Outputs
Target Audience: The target audiences are growers of small fruits and grapes, be these small or larger operations or homeowners. Secondary audience is consumers of these fruits. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? One PhD student Alejandra Salgdo conducted work on firmness of unique crispy blackberries in the program and provided resutls from her work at two professional meetings. MS student Derek Barchenger finished his degree and his research was on postharvest studies of muscadines. One BS student Olivia Hines conducted undergraduate work in sensory and consumer preference studies of blackberries. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Grower and professional meetings were used to share results of the research. Presentations were made in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The breeding cycle and evaluations will be conducted again in 2015. Similar crossing goals will be undertaken. Advanced selections will be evaluated for potential cultivar release.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Crossing of a range of blackberry selections was accomplished in 2014. A total of 57 crosses were made yielding 68,000 seeds. Seedlings form 2013 crosses totaled 8,299 that were field planted. Seedlings from 2010, 2011, and 2012 were evaluated, totaling near 20,000 seedllings, and yielded 104 selections. A new thornless blackberry plant named Prime Ark Traveler was released. It has commercial shipping potential along with thornless canes and the unique primocane-fruiting character. More than 1.2 million Univ of Arkansas-developed plants were reported sold by licensed propagators of blackberries in 2014. Sensory research was undertaken on blackberry cultivars and selections to determine consumer preferences. Muscadine seedlings planted in 2014 totaled 1500, and 2009 and 2010 seedlings yielded 18 new selections. Two wine grape selections were identified for potential release, these being Euvitis hybrids with adaptation for the region.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2014 Citation: Barchenger, D.W., J.R. Clark, R.T. Threlfall, and S. Sleezer. 2014. Evaluation of seed and fruit characteristics of muscadine grape. J. Amer. Pomol. Soc. 68:204-208. Barchenger, D.W., J.R. Clark, R.T. Threlfall, L.R. Howard, and C.R. Brownmiller. 2014. Effect of field fungicide applications on storability, physicochemical, and nutraceutical content of muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia Michx.) genotypes. HortScience 49:1315-1323.