ARS | Publication request: A Multifaceted Approach to Cranberry Improvement

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: September 14, 2007
Publication Date: October 1, 2007
Citation: Polashock, J.J. 2007. A Multifaceted Approach to Cranberry Improvement. Meeting Abstract. p.17.

Technical Abstract: We have screened a large cranberry germplasm collection for resistance to fruit rot. Several families segregating for fruit rot resistance have been identified and DNA fingerprinting and bulked segregant analysis is being used to identify potential markers for resistance. Cranberry fruit rot is caused by a complex of pathogenic fungi and general resistance suggests a biochemical mechanism for resistance. A separate project is aimed at isolating and characterizing the bioactive (i.e. antifungal) compound(s) from fruit. With regard to the pathogens, it is not known how genetically variable they are or if the current taxonomic structure is accurate. We have assessed genetic diversity in several species using sequence data from ITS1-5.8S-ITS2. We found the pathogens to be quite similar across growing regions, but also identified a small number of rare non-chromogenic C. acutatum isolates from British Columbia and white isolates of Physalospora vaccinii that appear to represent a new species. To better understand the function(s) of key genes, we have an ongoing tissue culture and transformation project. Details will be discussed.