Page 21 - CSHS 2022 Book of Abstracts - 2022-08-22 web version

CSHS 2022 Conference

(FO.3) The Canadian Berry Trial Network: A National Collaboration
Eric M. Gerbrandt , Beatrice Amyotte , Pierre Lafontaine , John Zandstra , Jennifer Crawford
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1*
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1. Sky Blue Horticulture Ltd., Chilliwack, BC; 2. AAFC, Kentville, NS; 3. Carrefour industriel et expérimental de
Lanaudière (CIEL), L’Assomption, QC; 4. University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus, Ridgetown, ON; 5. Association des
producteurs de fraises et framboises du Québec, Longueuil, QC
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Canadian highbush blueberry, red raspberry, and strawberry production is concentrated in British Columbia (BC),
Ontario (ON), and Quebec (QC), with smaller industries in provinces such as Nova Scotia (NS). These provinces have
a broad range of climatic and soil conditions. In 2018, the Canadian Berry Trial Network (CBTN) was formed as a
collaboration across BC, ON, QC, and NS to evaluate new varieties and advanced breeding selections of blueberry,
raspberry, and strawberry. The objectives of this project are to build collaboration across Canada’s fruit growing
regions, determine regional adaptation of novel berry genetics, and provide producers with recommendations.
Replicated yield trials of these three berry crops were established on research sites in each province from 2019-
2022 as well as unreplicated observational trials on commercial farms in BC. Advanced breeding selections were
sourced from the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) breeding program in NS, the industry-based breeding
program in BC, and private breeding companies in the United States (US). Relatively new varieties and older
standard varieties were sourced from commercial nurseries in both Canada and the US. Across replicated trials,
objective measures of fruit yield, size, and quality are being collected by the team of CBTN researchers. In BC,
observational trials were assessed through a combination of subjective evaluations and (for blueberry in particular)
replicated evaluations of fruit size and firmness during cooler storage. The CBTN engages Canadian berry producers
through a range of knowledge transfer media to provide practical recommendations for each region.

(FO.4) Phenotypic comparison of diverse strawberry plants in Oregon and Nova Scotia
Beatrice Amyotte , Kim E. Hummer , Nahla V. Bassil , Jason D. Zurn
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1. AAFC, Kentville, NS; 2. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Corvallis, OR, USA; 3. Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas
State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
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Strawberry is a major horticultural crop in Canada that is widely enjoyed for its flavour, nutritional value, and for
being one of the first fruits of summer. Production is primarily concentrated in Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and
British Columbia. Cultivars have been developed for each of these regions over the past several decades, and further
breeding efforts are needed to address new challenges brought about by changing climates and production systems.
Breeding improvements can be made using diverse germplasm accessions, such as those conserved in the U.S.
National Clonal Germplasm Repository (NCGR) in Corvallis, Oregon. Recently, the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
small fruit germplasm development program collaborated with the NCGR to perform a phenotypic evaluation of
diverse strawberry germplasm. A total of 284 Fragaria ×ananassa accessions from the NCGR were evaluated in
Corvallis, Oregon over two years. Phenology, plant morphology, and fruit quality traits showed a range of variability
with potential breeding value. Select findings from this study will be presented, including a multivariate analysis of
the relationships between traits, and a cluster analysis of accession groups with similar characteristics. Highlights
include the identification of a breeding line, NW 90054-37, which had elevated yield, fruit size, and anthocyanin
content, compared with the overall population. As well, preliminary data will be presented from a sister study of the
same accessions evaluated over one year in Kentville, Nova Scotia. The implications of performing phenotypic
evaluations in multiple environments will be discussed.

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