The Influence of Asian Germplasm on American Berry Crops

The berry, the botanical fruit that has its seeds incased in fleshy pulp, has provided highly nutritive components to the human diet for millennia. The cultivated small or soft fruits, including strawberry (Fragaria L.) and raspberry (Rubus L. subgenus idaeobatus) have benefitted greatly from Asian heritage. In addition, some Asian berries harvested from wild stands in their native ranges are new to western culture. The objectives of this presentation will be to summarize three aspects of the influence of Asian germplasm on American berry crops: Asian genes in the evolutionary development of octoploid strawberries; Asian Rubus species in raspberry breeding; and, additional Asian berries with potential niches for cultivation in the United States. Taxonomists have long observed similarities between Asian berry genera and their American and European counterparts. Recent genetic work has implicated several diploid Asian strawberries as possible genome donors to the octoploid American strawberry species. The latest molecular results will be summarized. While the cultivated red raspberry has been developed primarily from European (Rubus idaeus L.) and American (Rubus strigosus Michx.) germplasm, Asia is the primary center of diversity for raspberries, subgenus idaeobatus. Genes from a significant number of Asian species have been identified and successfully used in raspberry breeding. Disease and pest resistance, improved heat tolerance, improved plant habit, improved fruit characteristics, and increased yield are a few of the characters influenced by Asian genes. Several Asian species such as the blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.), the rock azalea (Vaccinium praestans Lamb.), hardy kiwifruit [Actinidia arguta (Siebold & Zucc.) Planch. Ex Miq.)], and magnolia vine [Schizandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill.], will be profiled. These unusual berry species have potential as new crops to diversify small fruit production by American farmers.