Seminar_Heeduk Oh_3.6.2023.pdf

Abstract:
Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) are produced and consumed worldwide for their enjoyable flavor and numerous human health benefits. However, blueberry fruits are highly perishable and soften rapidly, negatively affecting postharvest transport, storage, and consumer acceptance. This research project focuses on investigating fruit characteristics (FCs) that are related to and could be potentially used to predict shelf-life fruit quality. We evaluated fruit texture parameters, appearance parameters, and non-volatile chemistry among 61 cultivars over six weeks of cold storage at 2^oC and 80% RH. As a result, we identified FCs that are closely associated with shelf-life indicators such as texture change, weight loss, and wrinkling. Moreover, we developed models predicting these shelf life indicators using FCs measured at harvest. To understand the underlying genetics of the FCs, a mapping population consisting of 346 F₁ genotypes (‘Reveille’ x ‘Arlen’) was evaluated over two years (2021 and 2022) for quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis. Preliminary analyses detected several QTLs for texture parameters, fruit size, and non-volatile chemical attributes assessed both at harvest and after storage. Future studies will include sensory evaluation, further QTL analysis, and possibly candidate gene determination. The results of this research will establish a framework for developing a marker-assisted selection strategy for improving FCs related to shelf life in blueberry breeding programs.