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Horticulturae
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From the Field to the Table: Unearthing Wild Fruit Species...
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From the Field to the Table: Unearthing Wild Fruit Species for Enhanced Prospecting and Utilization

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Medicinals, Herbs, and Specialty Crops".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2025 | Viewed by 7192

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Miriam Elisabet Arena

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Guest Editor
Laboratorio de Fisiología Vegetal, Machado 914, CONICET—Universidad de Morón, Morón B1708EOH, Argentina
Interests: wild fruit species; environmental change; phenology; morphology; fruit chemical characterization; functional food
Dr. Silvia Radice

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Guest Editor
Laboratorio de Fisiología Vegetal, Machado 914, CONICET—Universidad de Morón, Morón B1708EOH, Argentina
Interests: floral biology; fertility; phenology; environmental change
Dr. Edgardo Giordani

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment, and Forestry (DAGRI), University of Florence, Viale delle Idee 30, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy
Interests: fruit tree species; plant genetic resources; plant breeding

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The lack of knowledge on several wild fruit species regarding their complete botanical information, ethnobotany, food and nutrition value, and, consequently, their potential use, as well as the changes in their ecosystem, maintain their underutilized status. However, these species are valuable since they usually contain nutritionally rich compounds that make them functional foods and a source of natural pigments. They also play an important role, considering increased food and nutritional insecurity, for their ability to recover from rigorous weather, to resist biotic and abiotic stress, and finally for being important gene donors for crop breeding. Based on the foregoing, it is considered that non-traditional and underutilized fruits are important in mitigating the problems of world food in the presence of sustainable population growth and malnutrition. Adaptation to social, economic, and environmental changes can be favored by the diversity of the food system. In developing countries, the existence of diverse rural and agricultural landscapes can help in choosing healthy diets. The objective of this Special Issue is to collect information on the geographic distribution, systematics and phylogeny, phenology, floral biology, morphological and anatomical characteristics, chemical composition, biological activity, ethnobotany, genetic resources and breeding, and domestication and postharvest of wild fruit species.

Dr. Miriam Elisabet Arena
Dr. Silvia Radice
Dr. Edgardo Giordani
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • fruit subutilized species
  • phenology
  • floral biology
  • fruit morphological and chemical characterization
  • genetic resources

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 3750 KiB  
Article
Morphological Evaluation and Phenolic Content of Wild Prunus cerasifera Ehrh. Fruits from Slovenia
by Tina Ternjak, Janja Kristl, Metka Šiško, Katja Horvat and Vilma Sem
Horticulturae 2024, 10(10), 1057; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10101057 - 3 Oct 2024
Viewed by 731
Abstract
Wild fruit species offer significant nutritional, environmental, and economic benefits. Among them, Prunus cerasifera Ehrh. (myrobalan) stands out for its resilience and nutrient-rich fruits, traditionally consumed fresh or dried. This study aimed to assess the morphological and biochemical diversity of 21 wild P. [...] Read more.
Wild fruit species offer significant nutritional, environmental, and economic benefits. Among them, Prunus cerasifera Ehrh. (myrobalan) stands out for its resilience and nutrient-rich fruits, traditionally consumed fresh or dried. This study aimed to assess the morphological and biochemical diversity of 21 wild P. cerasifera accessions from Slovenia, focusing on 18 fruit and stone traits, including size, shape, color, and phenolic compounds such as total monomeric anthocyanins and total phenolic content (TPC). The objective was to identify genotypes with potential for cultivation and food production or as parental components in breeding programs. The results showed variability in fruit length (2.19–2.82 cm), width (2.18–2.99 cm), weight (67.98–150.30 g), firmness, and juiciness, with notable differences in stone characteristics. Phytochemical analysis revealed a wide range of TPC (277–1756 mg/100 g) and anthocyanin levels (0–710 mg/100 g), with higher concentrations in darker fruits. Statistical analysis compared PAM and AGNES clustering methods, finding that PAM with five clusters and AGNES with two clusters provided similar insights. The study emphasized variability in morphological and chemical traits among clusters, with specific accessions showing particularly valuable traits, such as accession RK13, which had high TPC and anthocyanins and a non-adherent stone. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From the Field to the Table: Unearthing Wild Fruit Species for Enhanced Prospecting and Utilization)
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15 pages, 2126 KiB  
Article
Calafate (Berberis microphylla G. Forst) Populations from Chilean Patagonia Exhibit Similar Structuring at the Genetic and Metabolic Levels
by Antonieta Ruiz, Marco Meneses, Benjamín Varas, Juan Araya, Carola Vergara, Dietrich von Baer, Patricio Hinrichsen and Claudia Mardones
Horticulturae 2024, 10(5), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10050458 - 30 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1531
Abstract
Berberis microphylla, commonly known as calafate, is one of the most promising species of Chilean Patagonia to be domesticated, due to its anthocyanin-rich berries. The main aim of this study was to understand the genetic structure of the wild populations of B. [...] Read more.
Berberis microphylla, commonly known as calafate, is one of the most promising species of Chilean Patagonia to be domesticated, due to its anthocyanin-rich berries. The main aim of this study was to understand the genetic structure of the wild populations of B. microphylla in the main regions where it grows and its relationship with phenolic secondary metabolite profiles. Ripe berry samples and leaves were collected from the Aysén and Magallanes regions. Genetic analyses were carried out using 18 microsatellite markers. Phenolic compounds were extracted from the ripe fruits and were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Their antioxidant capacity was determined according to the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay. Total phenols were measured as their absorbance at a wavelength of 280 nm. Both the genetic and chemometric data were explored using unsupervised and supervised methods. The genetic markers suggest the existence of three groups, two of them corresponding to the Aysén and Magallanes samples, and the third corresponding to Chile Chico (a district in Aysén), which was the most divergent of the three. Similar results were observed in the phenolic profile obtained with chemometric analysis, with the same samples forming a separate third group. The differentiation achieved using the genetic and chemical data may be the result of intrinsic genetic differences, environmental effects on fruit maturity, or the sum of both factors. These are all points to consider in the domestication of this valuable species by selecting individuals with desirable traits and contrasting phenotypes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From the Field to the Table: Unearthing Wild Fruit Species for Enhanced Prospecting and Utilization)
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19 pages, 2075 KiB  
Article
Phenotypic and Molecular Diversity of Wild Populations of Acca sellowiana (Berg.) Burret in the Southern Area of Natural Distribution
by Mercedes Rivas, María Puppo, Estela Baccino, Marianella Quezada, Jorge Franco and Clara Pritsch
Horticulturae 2024, 10(4), 360; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10040360 - 5 Apr 2024
Viewed by 982
Abstract
Acca sellowiana is a subtropical tree in the myrtle family (Myrtaceae) native to southern Brazil and northeastern Uruguay. It is recognized for its value as a fruit-bearing, ornamental, and medicinal species. Based on distinctive characteristics of fruits, seeds, and leaves, as well as [...] Read more.
Acca sellowiana is a subtropical tree in the myrtle family (Myrtaceae) native to southern Brazil and northeastern Uruguay. It is recognized for its value as a fruit-bearing, ornamental, and medicinal species. Based on distinctive characteristics of fruits, seeds, and leaves, as well as its geographical distribution pattern, two variants of the species are distinguished: the “Brazilian type” and the “Uruguayan type”. The objective of this study was to characterize, for the first time, the diversity of 202 individuals from four wild populations in Uruguay, representative of the species’ most southern natural distribution. Twenty-three morphological descriptors (leaf, flower, and fruit) and 204 RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) markers were used. The morphological data collected validated the main criteria that distinguish “Uruguayan type” populations from “Brazilian type” populations, such as lower seed weight and fruit size, thin and slightly rough skin, high pulp percentage, and hairy white abaxial leaf surfaces. Analyses of both morphological and molecular data indicated wide diversity and strong population structuring, which is relevant information for designing conservation plans, sustainable utilization, and genetic improvement of the plant genetic resources of this species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From the Field to the Table: Unearthing Wild Fruit Species for Enhanced Prospecting and Utilization)
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13 pages, 2162 KiB  
Article
Effect of Climatic Variations in the Floral Phenology of Berberis microphylla and Its Pollinator Insects
by Silvia Radice, Edgardo Giordani and Miriam E. Arena
Horticulturae 2023, 9(12), 1254; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9121254 - 23 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1213
Abstract
Berberis microphylla (calafate) is an evergreen shrub that grows spontaneously in the Argentinean and Chilean Patagonia with a very harsh climate. This Sub-Antarctic zone is affected by the “El Niño” and “La Niña” pattern, which is measured using the Oceanic Niño Index (ONI). [...] Read more.
Berberis microphylla (calafate) is an evergreen shrub that grows spontaneously in the Argentinean and Chilean Patagonia with a very harsh climate. This Sub-Antarctic zone is affected by the “El Niño” and “La Niña” pattern, which is measured using the Oceanic Niño Index (ONI). The objective of this study was to analyze the floral phenology and its pollinator insects, in relation to the climatic conditions observed. This work was developed in Ushuaia (Argentina) during 2010, 2014, 2015, and 2016. Significant differences were observed for the development of flower bud and floral phenology between the four years studied. On 26 October, between 84 and 100% of flower buds was recorded in the shrubs tested during the years 2010, 2014, and 2015 and then decreased abruptly in 2010 and more slowly in 2014 and 2015. However, in 2016 on the same date, it was recorded 70% of button flowers increasing to 90% on 5 November and then slowly evolving towards the anthesis phase. On the other hand, the anthesis phase was developed rapidly for 2010 and 2015 and slower for 2014 and 2016. A peak in anthesis occurred on 2 November in 2010, while in the other years, it was observed later in 16 November. The hoverflies of the genus Carposcalis and Allograpta, both insects verified to be responsible for the pollination of calafate, were registered between 2014 and 2016. Carposcalis was significantly more present in 2014, while in 2015 and 2016, Allograpta was predominant. The insect activity was also related with the climatic conditions, i.e., air temperature, air relative humidity, wind speed, and gust of wind along the day during the anthesis phase, and which also modified its life cycle. So, it was observed in 2016, the year with winter temperatures higher than normal, that adult hoverflies ended their hibernation period earlier and began to lay eggs on the juvenile calafate sprouts; hence, the emerging larvae ate the pollen grain of button flowers, causing a decrease in future fruits harvested. The results presented show that the “La Niña” and “El Niño” effects in these latitudes are the opposite of those expected. Spring 2016 developed under a strong “La Niña” effect, as occurred in 2010 with temperatures warmer than in 2014 and 2015, where both years developed under the “El Niño” effect. This study showed how climatic conditions can modify the floral phenology of B. microphylla and its pollinator insect frequency, their activity, and their life cycle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From the Field to the Table: Unearthing Wild Fruit Species for Enhanced Prospecting and Utilization)
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18 pages, 3016 KiB  
Article
Novel Approach to Organic Mulching from Natural-Based Solutions to Enhance Soil Health and Functional Value of Calafate Fruit
by Matías Betancur, Jorge Retamal-Salgado, María Dolores López, Rosa Vergara-Retamales and Mauricio Schoebitz
Horticulturae 2023, 9(11), 1202; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9111202 - 5 Nov 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1970
Abstract
Mulching suppresses weeds, improves soil biology, and increases physical or bioactive fruit yield in fruit orchards. However, there is no information on its impact on calafate (Berberis microphylla G. Forst.) orchards, which produce berries with high antioxidant content. To address this gap, [...] Read more.
Mulching suppresses weeds, improves soil biology, and increases physical or bioactive fruit yield in fruit orchards. However, there is no information on its impact on calafate (Berberis microphylla G. Forst.) orchards, which produce berries with high antioxidant content. To address this gap, in 2021, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of 5 years of mulching on soil, plants, and calafate fruit. Four mulching treatments were established: no mulch (control), geotextile, oat straw, and hazelnut shell. All mulches suppressed weeds (43%) and maintained more soil moisture (5%) than the control. Soil microbial activity increased only with hazelnut shell compared with the control, up to 46%. Only oat straw and hazelnut shell increased basal respiration and urease up to 31% and 15% more than the control. Oat straw produced the highest fruit yield with 0.44 t ha−1, while the lowest yield was produced by the control and hazelnut shell with 0.1 and 0.15 t ha−1, respectively. The geotextile with 0.35 t ha−1 of fruit produced no differences between treatments. The ORAC antioxidant capacity was only higher in the control and hazelnut shell, with a mean of 3272 µmol TE 100 g−1. Hazelnut shell mulch is recommended to improve the biological functions of the soil and the antioxidant capacity of the calafate fruit. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue From the Field to the Table: Unearthing Wild Fruit Species for Enhanced Prospecting and Utilization)
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