ArticlePublisher preview available

SPAD: potential phenotyping method for characterization of blueberry

June 2022
Molecular Biology Reports 49(8)

June 2022
49(8)

DOI:10.1007/s11033-022-07430-0

Authors:

Gyung Deok Han

Cheongju National University of Education

Seong Heo

Kongju National University

Yong Suk Chung

Jeju National University

Background Blueberry is an attractive fruit due to its blue or purple-colored pigments with effective anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Accordingly, the demand for blueberry cultivation is rapidly increasing. However, various cultivars from different regions are cultivated without characterizing it. Methods and results We present a method to characterize crops using the SAPD meter. For characterizing each cultivar, the photosynthetic potential of each cultivar, which was measured by SAPD meter three times a day at three heights of a crop, was compared under the same conditions. Conclusion A difference in photosynthetic potential even in the same SHB-type cultivars was found. Therefore, applying cultivation methods suitable to the characteristics of each cultivar is necessary. At the same time, it would be meaningful for researchers and breeders to use this method for genome-wide association study in order to develop molecular markers for increasing photosynthesis efficiency.

Two-way ANOVA results examining the influence of measurement time and leaf position on the SPAD value in southern highbush blueberry cultivars on Jeju Island, South Korea. Multiple pairwise comparisons were applied to perform post-hoc analysis using ‘emmeans’ packages in R; differences were considered statistically significant at p > 0.05 (Y-axis represents SPAD value). a SPAD value comparison at three measuring times by cultivar. b SPAD value comparation at three heights of blueberry by cultivar

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Three-dimensional graphs of the SPAD values according to the measurement time and leaf position of different blueberry cultivars (a O’Neal, b Rebel, and c Spring High)

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Three-dimensional plot and the PCA biplot of blueberry SPAD values observation. a A three-dimensional plot shows three groups are derived from three blueberry cultivars and b the PCA biplot of individuals and variables. The biplot shows the PCA scores of the explanatory variables as vector (arrows in navy line) and individuals (marks) of each cultivar; O’Neal (blue circle), Spring High (yellow triangle), and Rebel (gray square); colored ellipses (size determined by a 0.95 probability level) emphasize the individuals belonging to each mark class

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The scatter plot between the actual and predicted values according to a multiple linear regression model. The black line is based on the data of all three cultivars according to measurement time and leaf position; the blue line is a regression line for O’Neal, the red line for Rebel, and the green line for Spring High

…

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE

1 3

Molecular Biology Reports (2022) 49:5505–5510

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-022-07430-0

breeding are highbush (V. corymbosum), lowbush (V. angus-

tifolium), rabbiteye (V. ashei), and V. darrowii [4, 5]. The

northern highbush blueberry (NHB) consists of V. corymbo-

sum and is native to the eastern and mid-western portions of

the USA, where the chilling requirement is high [6]. South-

ern highbush blueberry (SHB) types were bred to reduce the

chilling requirement of NHB by incorporating genes from

native species in the southern part of the USA, including

V. darrowii [6]. Vaccinium darrowii is an evergreen species

that ripens later in summer and retains its leaves during win-

ter [7] and is therefore used as a breeding source to pro-

duce a lower chilling requirement in NHB. Each blueberry

cultivar has its origin response or adaption characteristic to

environments. Therefore, their sutiable growing condition

would be very dierent one another. Thus, it would be ben-

ecial to characterize them by proper phenotyping method

not only for developing proper growing methods but also

for phenotyping for molecular study such as genome wide

association studies (GWAS).

Light is one of the most important factors for photosyn-

thesis. Furtheremore, its intensity and longevity during day

varies depending on the region, more specically latitude.

Thus, the current study aims to determine if single-photon

avalanche diode (SPAD) values are dierent depending on

Introduction

Blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) are perennial fruit trees with

blue or purple-colored fruit that are attractive to consum-

ers. Their constituents have highly eective anti-cancer and

anti-inammatory properties, preventing carcinogenesis

and reducing oxidative stress [1]. Consequently, Blueberries

(Vaccinium spp.) have been cultivated worldwide. Global

production of blueberry is more than doubled between 2010

and 2019, rising from 439,000 metric tons to about 1.0 mil-

lion metric tons [2].

There are various cultivars in blueberry. The cultivation

area is divided into the northern or southern regions (accord-

ing to the geographical areas of North America) although

the origin is North America [3]. It can be also grouped as

the short (lowbush) or tall (highbush) types, depending on

their growth habits. The primary species used for blueberry

Yong Suk Chung

yschung@jejunu.ac.kr

1 Department of Plant Resources and Environment, Jeju

National University, 63243 Jeju, Korea

2 Department of Horticulture, Kongju National University,

32439 Yesan, Korea

Abstract

Background Blueberry is an attractive fruit due to its blue or purple-colored pigments with eective anti-cancer and anti-

inammatory properties. Accordingly, the demand for blueberry cultivation is rapidly increasing. However, various cultivars

from dierent regions are cultivated without characterizing it.

Methods and results We present a method to characterize crops using the SAPD meter. For characterizing each cultivar, the

photosynthetic potential of each cultivar, which was measured by SAPD meter three times a day at three heights of a crop,

was compared under the same conditions.

Conclusion A dierence in photosynthetic potential even in the same SHB-type cultivars was found. Therefore, applying

cultivation methods suitable to the characteristics of each cultivar is necessary. At the same time, it would be meaningful for

researchers and breeders to use this method for genome-wide association study in order to develop molecular markers for

increasing photosynthesis eciency.

Keywords Blueberries · Crop modeling · Photosynthesis · Cultivar · Cultivation system

Received: 28 February 2022 / Accepted: 25 March 2022 / Published online: 8 May 2022

SPAD: potential phenotyping method for characterization of blueberry

Gyung DeokHan1· SeongHeo2· Jeong MinChio1· Yong SukChung1

Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.

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SPAD: potential phenotyping method for characterization of blueberry

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