The James Hutton Institute is a globally recognized research organization that focuses on fundamental and applied science to promote the sustainable use of land and natural resources. It will be represented in Rimini by researcher Susan McCallum, who will present a paper at the International Blueberry Days symposium on trends in genetic research and selection at blueberry.
The institute combines the strengths of crop, soil, land use and environmental research, contributing significantly to the understanding of key global issues, such as food, energy and environmental security, and to the development and promotion of effective technological and management solutions.
The Institute is an internationally networkedorganization and operates from several locations, including the two main ones in Scotland, in Aberdeen and Dundee. It employs more than 500 scientists and support staff, making it one of the largest research centers in the United Kingdom and the first of its kind in Europe.
The institute works on many strategic crops for Scotland, such as barley, potatoes, brassicas, hops, cherries and soft fruits. Within the Hutton Institute is a soft fruit genetics center, where research results are applied as part of commercially funded breeding programs to produce improved cultivars for the U.K. fruit industry.
Susan McCallum is the head of genetics and selection research at blueberry at the Hutton Institute: "I have extensive experience in phenotyping and genotyping soft fruits for a range of biotic and abiotic traits. My work has focused on berries for 16 years, with research involving mycorrhizal associations, pest and disease resilience, as well as a range of quality traits such as size, yield and flavor."
"I am involved in marker development and linkage map construction in blueberries and analyzing genetic diversity levels in wild Vaccinium species in Scotland. I am also focusing on speed breeding and tissue culture of selections from blueberries, as this is an important bottleneck for the development of new cultivars in the UK. I am currently developing a new linkage map that will allow determination of allelic dosage, thus paving the way for marker-assisted selection within the breeding program."
"I also developed and sequenced an association mapping population that will expand our genetic knowledge of this crop and its performance under UK conditions. I am also heavily involved in other projects, including identifying mechanisms of yield instability in blueberry, developing genetic resources for pre-selectioning of blueberry , and developing high-throughput phenotyping for blueberry using hyperspectral imaging."
THE SECTOR OF BLUEBERRY IN THE UK
Over the past decade, blueberries have gained popularity among UK consumers due to their convenience, flavor, and numerous recognized health benefits. Currently, the UK's blueberries supply only 10-15% of demand, and there is a huge opportunity to increase the supply of local products. To achieve this, cultivars that are better suited to local growing conditions and meet the expectations of UK consumers are urgently needed.
In this regard, says Susan McCallum: "To meet these needs, we have developed a new breeding program for blueberry in Scotland, applying state-of-the-art molecular, bioinformatic and physiological tools, with the aim of developing cultivars best suited to the local climate. In 2022, demand reached record levels, with blueberries sales of more than £480 million, making blueberries one of the most popular berries among UK buyers."
"Last year alone, more than 4,600 tons of British blueberries were purchased in the UK. So far, this growing demand has not been followed by a UK supply: domestically produced blueberries supply less than 15 percent of the UK market, and this shortage is met by imports from other countries. To take advantage of this clear market opportunity, the Scottish and UK industry needs to improve management techniques and, in the medium term, develop cultivars adapted to the UK that will provide a consistent, high-yielding, good-quality crop for an extended growing season."
"UK growers of blueberries also face significant year-to-year fluctuations in their yields of blueberries. This is one of the main obstacles to successful and profitable blueberries production. This instability prevents blueberries growers from accurately forecasting production and profits, resulting in volatility in UK supply. The UK's changing climate poses additional challenges to the production of blueberries. There are already indications that the trend toward warmer winters in the UK and Europe is affecting the dormancy cycle and subsequent fruit development of some berry species."
"Sustained growth in the blueberries market therefore depends on innovation and the continued availability of new varieties. We are applying the latest scientific techniques to innovate and inform the British fruit industry on how to develop blueberries better for the future."
Susan McCallum will be a speaker at the Symposium to be held on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 in Rimini during International Blueberry Days, the event organized in conjunction with Macfrut 2023.
