EFFECT OF POLLINATION MODE ON FRUIT SET IN BLUE HONEYSUCKLE (Lonicera caerulea L.)

Abstract

Honeyberry's popularity has been increasing because of its valuable traits: nutritional value of fruits (a high amount of ascorbic acid, potassium and polyphenolic compounds), early ripening (14 days before strawberry), exceptional hardiness and easy cultivation. However, there is still little known about the pollination biology of this species, which is essential for practical breeding purposes. In this study we evaluated pollen fertility in five cultivars and three breeding clones of this species. The impact of the manner of pollination on the fruit set and forming seeds has also been studied. The highest percentage of viable pollen was found in cultivars 'Duet' and 'Wojtek' (96%), whereas the pollen of 'Chelyabinka' cultivar had the lowest fertility (90%). The percentage of blue honeysuckle fruits obtained from open-pollinated flowers was high (on average 94.7%) compared to isolated flowers (on average 8.6%). The effect of cross-pollination with cv. 'Duet' indicates that the percentage of the fruit set, fruit weight and mass of produced seeds was higher when this cultivar was applied as maternal than paternal form. The number of seeds affected significantly the weight of the fruit in the case when cv. 'Duet' was used as a paternal (correlation coefficient r = 0.45) or maternal form (r = 0.66), while for other methods of pollination this effect was insignificant. These results may be used to the most efficient establishment of plantations as well as for the realization of the breeding program of this valuable species.

Breeding trends on blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.)

“…Molecular biology and bioinformatics are increasingly being used to analyse the genetic background of plants, such as SRAP markers, and traditional methods based on morphology, physiology, anatomy and embryology are also used to assess plant genetic variation (Gang et al, 2023;Hatzopoulos et al, 2002;Lamoureux et al, 2011;Naugžemys et al, 2022). Researchers report that phenological period, yield, fruit weight, seed number and pollen activity are important evaluation indexes for breeding materials, and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to characterize the blue honeysuckle germplasms (Gawronski et al, 2014). The Lonicera L. subsect.…”

Evaluation of the Chemical Composition of Selected Varieties of L. caerulea var. kamtschatica and L. caerulea var. emphyllocalyx

“…The ability of the fruit to reduce iron ions (FRAP method) was determined according to the methodology given by Rupasinghe et al [ 26 ], and the results are given in μM Fe 2+ ·g −1 f.w. The antioxidant activity of the fruit was determined using DPPH methods according to the methodology given by Jurčaga et al [ 54 ], and the result is expressed as % inhibition of DPPH radicals, and through the ABTS method according to the methodology given by Gawroński et al [ 1 ], and the results are expressed in mM TE·100 g −1 f.w. All analyses were performed in triplicate.…”

“…The blue honeysuckle ( Lonicera caerulea L.) belongs to the genus Lonicera ( Caprifoliaceae ), which contains more than 200 species, native to the cold lands of the Far East and central Asia. Most of them are ornamental plants; only about 17 are edible fruit-producing species [ 1 ]. Lonicera caerulea has numerous varieties, several of which are widely cultivated, originating from Russia ( L .…”

Biological Properties of Honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.): A Review: The nutrition, health properties of honeysuckle

“…They are a valuable source of vitamins, minerals, and secondary metabolites with properties that are important for maintaining proper human health (Grobelna et al, 2020). For a long time berries have been harvested from wild plants in the regions of Russia, Chine, and Japan (Gawroński and Kaczmarska, 2018). This plant was even called the "elixir of life" by the indigenous Ainu family living on the island of Hokkaido (Celli et al, 2014).…”