Page 44 - CSHS 2022 Book of Abstracts - 2022-08-22 web version

CSHS 2022 Conference

Abstracts – Oral Presentations

(HO.1) Haskap berry as a sustainable and competitive fruit crop of Canada
H.P. Vasantha Rupasinghe
Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Bible Hill, NS
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Globally, there is a need of climate-change resilience plant-food production systems to meet the demand of growing
population. As well, the emergence of various chronic and metabolic diseases including various cancers is a
predominant challenge to human health, society, and the economy. One of the interests in designing future foods is
to identify and incorporate disease preventive and health-promoting phytochemical bioactives in our diet. We have
assessed the nutritional and nutraceutical quality of commercially grown haskap berry (Lonicera caerulea). Haskap
berry has been used as a traditional medicine in Russia, Japan, and Northeastern China for centuries. We have found
that the antioxidant capacity of haskap was significantly greater compared to that of other commonly consumed
fruits. Polyphenols extracted from haskap berry exerted suppression of the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines
by lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophages in vitro, suggesting the anti-inflammatory properties. Independent of
cultivars, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside was found as the predominant bioactive presence in haskap berries. Using multiple
experimental model systems, we have demonstrated that haskap berry and its major bioactive anthocyanins could
reduce the risk of chronic diseases initiated due to oxidative stress and inflammation. Haskap berry is now
incorporated in functional foods and dietary supplements. Scientific evidence suggests that this ancient berry of Asia
can be established in promoting the optimal aging of humanity worldwide.

(HO.2) Evaluation of cultivars and traits for Haskap (Lonicera caerulea) for commercial
production over eight years in the Northern Rocky Mountains, USA
Zach Miller
Western Agricultural Research Center, Montana State University, Corvallis, MT, USA
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Haskaps are a relatively new crop, adapted to colder climates, that may have potential as a commercial berry crop.
Little information exists on yields, berry qualities for the numerous available cultivars. To identify more productive,
sweeter, and larger berry producing Haskap cultivars we compared yields, brix, and berry weight among 15
cultivars planted in 2015 at the Montana State University-Western Ag. Research Center and two other sites in
Montana. We also tested for correlations within and among varieties among these variables and timing of fruit
maturity to identify relationships between yield and quality with in varieties (i.e. could berry qualities be improved
with lower crop load) and for breeding (e.g. relationships between traits among varieties may indicate genetic
tradeoffs). Cumulative yields varied by more than 30-fold among varieties with later maturing varieties developed
by Maxine Thompson producing the highest yields (6-7 kg plant-1). Within varieties, berry quality traits were not
consistently correlated with yield, suggesting increasing crop load does not reduce berry weight or soluble solid
content. Among varieties, yield was not correlated with soluble solid content, but increasing berry weight does
explain increased yields in the varieties with small to medium sized berries.

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