@article{redpath_aryal_lynch_spencer_hulse-kemp_ballington_green_bassil_hummer_ranney_et al._2022, title={Nuclear DNA contents and ploidy levels of North American Vaccinium species and interspecific hybrids}, volume={297}, ISSN={["1879-1018"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.scienta.2022.110955}, abstractNote={Breeding strategies for improving blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum and V. virgatum) cultivars often include introgressing regionally adapted species into the cultivated gene pools through interspecific hybridization. However, these approaches are complicated by variation in ploidy, triploid blocks and infertility, production of unreduced gametes, and aneuploidy. The objective of this study was to use flow cytometry, k-mer distribution analysis, and known pedigree information to evaluate genome sizes (2C nuclear and 1Cx monoploid), and ploidy of diverse accessions from Vaccinium sections and species. A total of 369 accessions, including a diversity panel (DP) of 251 inter- and intra-specific hybrid Vaccinium accessions, as well as 118 non-hybrid Vaccinium species across multiple sections, were sampled from the North Carolina State University blueberry breeding program and the National Clonal Germplasm Repository. The nuclear DNA content was analyzed via flow cytometry. The mean (range) DNA content of diploid, tetraploid, and hexaploid reference species were 1.20 pg (0.99 pg in V. crassifolium ‘Well's Delight’ to 1.41 pg in V. caesariense NC79–24), 2.37 pg (2.11 pg in V. corymbosum ‘Concord’ to 3.01 pg in V. corymbosum DE599), and 3.64 pg (3.24 in V. constablaei NC83–21–2 to 3.80 in V. virgatum ‘Premier’ and NC4790), respectively. Of the 369 unique accessions analyzed for ploidy, 259 were tetraploid, 46 were diploid, one was triploid, 51 were pentaploid or aneuploid with 2C values between tetraploid and hexaploid values, and 12 were hexaploid. Tetraploid hybrid pedigrees, which involved hexaploid crosses within three prior generations, had a 2C value range between 2.22 pg and 2.59 pg. Interspecific pentaploid and aneuploid progeny 2C DNA content ranged from 2.61 pg to 3.15 pg. We speculate some of these progeny to be near tetraploids with extra chromosomes from hexaploid progenitors. Further karyotyping of these individuals is necessary to ascertain aneuploidy anomalies. This research provides an expanded knowledge base of genome sizes, ploidy, and reproductive pathways for diverse species and hybrids to enhance future breeding, improvement, and the genomic study of blueberry.}, journal={SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE}, author={Redpath, Lauren E. and Aryal, Rishi and Lynch, Nathan and Spencer, Jessica A. and Hulse-Kemp, Amanda M. and Ballington, James R. and Green, Jaimie and Bassil, Nahla and Hummer, Kim and Ranney, Thomas and et al.}, year={2022}, month={Apr} }
 @article{edger_iorizzo_bassil_benevenuto_ferrao_giongo_hummer_lawas_leisner_li_et al._2022, title={There and back again; historical perspective and future directions for Vaccinium breeding and research studies}, volume={9}, ISSN={["2052-7276"]}, DOI={10.1093/hr/uhac083}, abstractNote={Abstract
               The genus Vaccinium L. (Ericaceae) contains a wide diversity of culturally and economically important berry crop species. Consumer demand and scientific research in blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) and cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) have increased worldwide over the crops’ relatively short domestication history (~100 years). Other species, including bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), and ohelo berry (Vaccinium reticulatum) are largely still harvested from the wild but with crop improvement efforts underway. Here, we present a review article on these Vaccinium berry crops on topics that span taxonomy to genetics and genomics to breeding. We highlight the accomplishments made thus far for each of these crops, along their journey from the wild, and propose research areas and questions that will require investments by the community over the coming decades to guide future crop improvement efforts. New tools and resources are needed to underpin the development of superior cultivars that are not only more resilient to various environmental stresses and higher yielding, but also produce fruit that continue to meet a variety of consumer preferences, including fruit quality and health related traits.}, journal={HORTICULTURE RESEARCH}, author={Edger, Patrick P. and Iorizzo, Massimo and Bassil, Nahla V and Benevenuto, Juliana and Ferrao, Luis Felipe V and Giongo, Lara and Hummer, Kim and Lawas, Lovely Mae F. and Leisner, Courtney P. and Li, Changying and et al.}, year={2022}, month={Jan} }