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Apr 29 2025
1A major scientific breakthrough at the University of Florida (UF) could revolutionize the blackberry industry. A team of researchers has successfully assembled the genome of a blackberry variety, setting the stage for developing thornless, tastier, and disease-resistant cultivars. The findings, recently published in Horticulture Research, highlight the potential to significantly improve blackberry breeding practices and meet growing consumer demand.
Led by Zhanao Deng, a professor of environmental horticulture at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, the study offers new insights into blackberry genetics. Deng explained that this research is not only about advancing academic knowledge but also about creating practical benefits for farmers and consumers worldwide. “The end result could be better, more robust blackberry varieties that benefit both growers and consumers,” Deng said.
In recent decades, demand for blackberries has steadily increased. Today, the United States produces approximately 37 million pounds of processed blackberries and nearly 3 million pounds of fresh fruit each year. In Florida alone, blackberries are grown on 702 acres across 277 farms, according to data from the 2022 U.S. Department of Agriculture Census of Agriculture. For Florida farmers, especially those seeking alternatives to citrus crops, this development offers a promising new opportunity.
The study focused on an experimental blackberry known as BL1, which is a tetraploid plant—meaning it contains four sets of chromosomes, twice the number found in diploid plants like raspberries. Sequencing the genome of a tetraploid is more complex than that of a diploid, but the research team managed to reconstruct the entire genome using a vast collection of DNA sequences.
This newly assembled reference genome enables researchers to pinpoint the genetic basis for desirable traits such as thornlessness, improved fruit color, and disease resistance. In particular, the team uncovered genetic mechanisms responsible for the production of anthocyanins, compounds that give blackberries their deep purple hue and are linked to health benefits.
“This genome gives us a clearer understanding of how traits like thornlessness and berry coloration develop,” Deng explained. “That knowledge allows us to enhance these characteristics more precisely through breeding.”
The research has significant implications for agriculture in Florida and similar climates. With this genetic roadmap in hand, breeders can now accelerate the development of cultivars tailored to local growing conditions, potentially increasing both crop yield and quality.
By building on this foundational work, scientists hope to deliver improved blackberry varieties that are easier to harvest, more appealing to consumers, and more profitable for growers—signaling a brighter future for blackberry cultivation in the U.S. and beyond.
Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-04-blackberries-thorns-scientist-genome-blackberry.html
This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.
