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Title: BLUEBERRY VOLATILE ANALYSIS AS A POTENTIAL MARKER FOR DISEASE RESISTANCE

Author
item Polashock, James
item Saftner, Robert

Submitted to: New Jersey Annual Vegetable Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/30/2005
Publication Date: 8/2/2005
Citation: Polashock, J.J., Saftner, R.A. 2005. Blueberry volatile analysis as a potential marker for disease resistance. Proceedings of the 2005 New Jersey Annual Vegetable Meeting. p. 121-122.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: One of the primary diseases affecting blueberry production is Anthracnose Ripe Rot caused by Colletotrichum acutatum. Blueberry varieties have been documented that span the range from very susceptible to highly resistant. Screening for resistance to this disease requires considerable input in terms of plant material and personnel time. If the mechanism(s) of resistance could be determined, assays could be developed to speed and simplify screening for resistance. Disease resistance may be associated with the steady-state presence of and/or the pathogen-induced production in blueberry fruit of aromatic volatiles, such as trans-2-hexenal, that have antimicrobial activities against a range of plant pathogens, in addition to their well documented impact on the aroma and flavor quality of the fruit. We compared antimicrobial volatile concentrations to disease resistance levels in C. acutatum-inoculated and non-inoculated blueberry fruit stored up to 5 days after harvest, from 10 cultivars having a wide range of disease resistance to C. acutatum. Among the ten cultivars tested were 'Duke', 'Bluecrop' and 'Elliott' which represent the three most common varieties grown in New Jersey. Although the levels of aromatic volatiles varied amongst the cultivars