DataSheet_6_Development of a Novel Phenotypic Roadmap to Improve Blueberry Quality and Storability.pdf

Improved fruit quality and prolonged storage capability are key breeding traits for blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) fruit. Until now, breeding selection was mostly oriented on the amelioration of agronomic traits, such as flowering time, chilling requirement, or plant structure. Up until now, however, the storage effect on fruit quality has not been extensively studied, mostly because objective and handy phenotyping tools to evaluate quality traits were not available. In this study we are proposing a novel phenotyping protocol to support breeding selection and quality control within the entire blueberry production chain. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and texture traits, were measured by Proton Transfer Reaction- Time of Flight- Mass Spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS) and a texture analyzer respectively, taking into consideration the influence of prolonged storage. The exploitation of the genetic variability existing within the investigated blueberry germplasm collection (including both southern and northern highbush, hybrids, and rabbiteyes) allowed the identification of the best performing cultivars, based on texture and VOCs variability, to be used as superior parental lines for future breeding programs. The comprehensive characterization of blueberry aroma allowed the identification of a wide array of spectrometric features, mostly related to aldehydes, alcohols, terpenoids, and esters, that can be used as putative biomarkers to rapidly evaluate the blueberry aroma variations related to genetic differences and storability. In addition, this study revealed a lack of straightforward relationship between harvest and postharvest quality features, that might be genotype-dependent.

提升果实品质与延长贮藏寿命是蓝莓（Vaccinium spp.）育种的核心目标性状。迄今为止，蓝莓育种筛选多聚焦于农艺性状的改良，例如开花期、需冷量或植株株型。然而，此前贮藏对果实品质的影响并未得到广泛研究，主要原因是缺乏用于评估品质性状的客观且便捷的表型分析工具。本研究提出一套全新的表型分析方案，用于支撑蓝莓全产业链的育种筛选与品质管控。本研究分别采用质子转移反应-飞行时间-质谱（Proton Transfer Reaction-Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometry, PTR-ToF-MS）与质地分析仪，测定挥发性有机化合物（Volatile Organic Compounds, VOCs）与果实质地性状，并纳入长期贮藏的影响因素。本研究对所涉及的蓝莓种质资源库（涵盖南高丛蓝莓、北高丛蓝莓、杂交品种及兔眼蓝莓）中的遗传变异进行挖掘，基于果实质地与VOCs的变异特征筛选出表现最优的品种，可作为未来育种项目的优良亲本材料。通过对蓝莓香气的全面表征，本研究鉴定出一系列与醛类、醇类、萜类及酯类相关的质谱特征，这些特征可作为推定生物标志物，用于快速评估与遗传差异及贮藏性相关的蓝莓香气变化。此外，本研究发现采收期与采后品质性状之间并无直接关联，该现象可能因基因型而异。