Impact of Interspecific Hybridization on Anthocyanin Accumulation in Blueberry Species (Vaccinium spp.)

Blueberry, a rich source of anthocyanins with important implications for human health chronic diseases, has become a major fruit commodity in the United States. This study was designed to assess the impact of genetic introgressions among blueberry species that were introduced through interspecific hybridization on anthocyanin concentration and profile. Blueberries of commercial cultivars, NC breeding selections/clones, and F₁ populations with varying ploidy levels and degrees of introgression from multiple species were used to address this question. The commercial cultivars included Arlen, Columbus, Ira, Legacy, O’Neal, Pamlico, Sampson, Lenoir, Legacy, Ozarkblue, Montgomery, Tifblue, and Yadkin.  The breeding selections included NC 3961, NC4263, NC4385, and NC4900. The F₁ crosses included Arlen x Georgia Gem, NC1223 x Columbus, NC 4295 x Arlen, NC4297 x Ozarkblue, NC81-10-2 x Columbus, and NC4302 x Georgia Gem.  Ripe fruits from blue berry genotypes, grown in Piedmont Research Station at Salisbury, NC, were evaluated for anthocyanin concentration and profile in two consecutive years (2010 and 2011). Total anthocyanin concentrations ranged from 160–464 mg/100g fresh weight in the commercial cultivars while in NC selections were 173–408 mg/100 g fresh weight.  For the F₁ crosses, population means for total anthocyanins ranged from 227–546 mg/100 g fresh weight. The highest genetic introgression impact on anthocyanin accumulation was observed in the NC1223 x Columbus cross, with wild Virgatum (ashei) background. Ploidy level and degree of introgression among blueberry species were observed to affect total and certain anthocyanins species. However, the expression of the interspecific introgressions in blueberry species was genetic background-dependent.  The genotype stability for anthocyanin accumulation over two years is discussed.