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ARS Home Northeast Area Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) Beltsville Agricultural Research Center Genetic Improvement for Fruits & Vegetables Laboratory Research





- Polashock, James
- Ehlenfeldt, Mark
- Neyhart, Jeffrey
- 2023
- Plant Diseases (303)
- Plant Genetic Resources, Genomics and Genetic Improvement (301)

Research Project: Accelerating Blueberry and Cranberry Improvement by Exploiting Germplasm Resources and Multi-omics Technologies **Location:
                            Genetic Improvement for Fruits & Vegetables Laboratory** 2023 Annual Report **Objectives**
                                

Objective 1. Enhance genomic resources for blueberry and cranberry by increasing the number of reference genomes in these crops and related species, leveraging evolving genotyping platforms to develop well-saturated genetic maps, and mapping and utilizing QTL for marker development and gene discovery of selected traits. 
Sub-objective 1a. Develop new reference genomes.
Sub-objective 1b. Develop a consensus genetic-physical map for cranberry.
Sub-objective 1c. Map QTL for selected traits in blueberry and cranberry.
Sub-objective 1d. Develop markers for key QTL and identify trait-associated candidate genes.
Sub-objective 1e. Develop and use virus-induced gene silencing (VIGs) and CRISPR gene editing to test target gene function in blueberry and cranberry.

Objective 2. Develop improved cranberry/blueberry pre-breeding and breeding methods that exploit high-dimensional genomic, phenomic, and environmental data, leading to the development of genetic stocks, improved breeding lines, and elite cultivars. 
Sub-objective 2a. Develop and evaluate methods to effectively and reciprocally introgress rabbiteye (V. virgatum) and highbush (V. corymbosum) germplasm to produce improved and environmentallyadapted selections and cultivars.
Sub-objective 2b.Develop and evaluate methodology to utilize V. meridionale (Andean blueberry) to improve highbush blueberry (V. corymbosum), and to cross-transfer blueberry (V. corymbosum / V. virgatum), cranberry (V. macrocarpon), and lingonberry (V. vitis-idaea) germplasm.
Sub-objective 2c. Develop, validate, and implement genomic selection models to initiate a rapid recurrent selection cranberry pre-breeding pipeline.
Sub-objective 2d. Develop and deploy systems for image-based high-throughput phenotyping and trait discovery in cranberry and blueberry.

Objective 3. Apply ‘omics technologies to better understand fundamental cranberry/blueberry processes and plant-microbe interactions such as disease resistance and environmental stress tolerance. 
Sub-objective 3a. Develop hyperspectral imaging techniques for the collection of phenotypic data of blueberry and cranberry, such as disease status, fruit wax, and stress response. 
Sub-objective 3b. Use transcriptomics to characterize response of blueberries and cranberries to various treatments such as temperature stress and during various other processes/developmental stages. **Approach**
                                

Uncover genome variation in Vaccinium crops and related species, using long-read sequencing and advanced bioinformatics tools. Evaluate V. meridionale by highbush blueberry, by lingonberry, and by cranberry F1 progeny for quality traits and as pre-breeding material for the development of superior lines. Develop genomic selection (GS) models to enhance prediction accuracy for selection and breeding. Increase the use of imaging for high-throughput phenotyping and the procedures for image analysis. Employ RNAseq experiments to identify important target genes and create markers for their selection in progeny. **Progress Report**
                                

This is a newly established project approved thru OSQR review.  Please see final annual report 8042-21000-279-000D.

Phenotyping for various traits in blueberry and cranberry is in progress. 
Second year evaluation is underway for a replicated plot containing families composed of “Nocturne × highbush” pentaploids × 4x highbush cultivar individuals, and families composed of “Nocturne × highbush” pentaploids × 6x rabbiteye cultivar individuals.

Selected genotypes of Highbush blueberry (V. corymbosum) x Andean blueberry (V. meridionale) and genotypes of Andean blueberry (V. meridionale) x lingonberry (V. vitis-idaea) are being propagated for distribution to cooperators to allow evaluation of environmental adaptation. **Accomplishments**


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