Search Results (405)

Fruit sweetness is a key trait that determines the quality of fresh raspberries and meets processing requirements. It is mainly regulated by the content of soluble sugars and organic acids. However, there is still a lack of systematic research on the molecular mechanisms of sugar accumulation during the development of raspberry fruits. This study used the raspberry variety ‘Caroline’ as material. By detecting changes in sugar content during fruit development and ripening, combined with transcriptomic analysis of related differentially expressed genes, it was found that the differentially expressed gene RiPFK2 was significantly upregulated during the period of rapid sugar accumulation in the fruit. We constructed an RiPFK2 overexpression vector and found that fructose content significantly increased in transgenic tomatoes and raspberries, indicating that this gene positively regulates fructose accumulation. This study is the first to reveal the positive regulatory role of PFK family members in fructose accumulation in raspberry fruits, providing a theoretical basis for improving raspberry fruit quality. Full article

The influence of natural β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) on the overall antioxidant activity of berry extracts is presented in this study. Raw raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) and β-CD-assisted dehydrated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) ethanolic extracts (RB and SB, respectively) were spectrophotometrically monitored in the presence of 1 mM 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH·) solution in the absence or presence of β-CD. Cyanidin 3-O-glucoside (Cy3G) was used as standard compound, being identified by RP-HPLC in both RB and SB at 14.62 and only 0.15 mg/100 g fresh weight (fw). Pelargonidin 3-O-glucoside (Plg3G) was the most concentrated anthocyanin in SB (estimated at 2.46 mg/100 g fw). Higher antioxidant activities (expressed as the radical scavenging activity, RSA, %) were obtained for SB dehydrated in the presence of β-CD. The RSA values increased by 35% in comparison with the SB dehydrated by the classical method. On the other hand, the DPPH· reaction kinetic parameters significantly differed for RB extracts evaluated in the presence of 1 mM β-CD (in water). The DPPH· reaction rate in the 3–15 min time range was 25% higher for the RB extracts obtained from the β-CD-assisted dehydrated samples. This study demonstrates for the first time the protection capacity of β-CD against the degradation of antioxidants during the classical dehydration process of berries. This technology can be extended to other fruits and scaled up for obtaining high-quality fruit-based products. Full article

Berry crops such as strawberry Fragaria × ananassa (Weston), raspberry Rubus idaeus L., blackberry Rubus ulmifolius Schott, 1818, and blueberry Vaccinium myrtillus L. are economically and nutritionally valuable worldwide. However, the intensive use of synthetic pesticides for pest management in these crops has led to ecological imbalance, pest resistance, and negative effects on non-target organisms and human health. The integration of biological control agents into sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) systems represents an alternative. This review compiles and evaluates current advances in the application of baculoviruses (BVs), entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs), nematodes (EPNs), predatory mites (PMs), and parasitoid wasps (PWs) for pest suppression in berry crops. Emphasis was placed on their ecological interactions, host specificity, and compatibility within IPM frameworks. The combined use of micro- and macrobiological control agents effectively reduces key pest populations. However, field efficacy remains influenced by abiotic stressors such as UV radiation, temperature fluctuations, and chemical incompatibility. The integration of native micro- and macrobiological control agents of through conservation biological control (CBC) strategies can enhance sustainability in berry production systems. Future efforts should focus on formulation improvements, adaptive management under field conditions, and synergistic interactions among microbial and arthropod natural enemies. Full article

(1) Background: Rubus geoides Sm., a native species of southern Patagonia, faces increasing threats due to climate change and anthropogenic land-use changes. Historically widespread, its distribution has become restricted by overgrazing, urban expansion, extractive industries, and direct harvesting from natural populations driven by interest in its nutraceutical potential since the first European settlements. (2) Methods: To assess its resilience and conservation prospects, we analyzed the morphological variability, genetic diversity, and population structure, complemented by species distribution modeling under past and future climate scenarios. (3) Results: Our findings reveal moderate genetic differentiation and private alleles in specific populations, alongside significant variation in flowering phenology. Paternity analysis indicates a tendency toward self-pollination, although this conclusion is constrained by the limited number of microsatellite markers employed. These results suggest post-glacial dispersal patterns and highlight the species’ potential for expansion under certain climate scenarios. (4) Conclusions: This study provides critical insights for biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management, directly aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals SDG 15 (Life on Land). Indirectly, this study contributes to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by highlighting the importance of threatened species that hold value for human consumption and food security. Land-use changes, particularly mining and green hydrogen industry settlements, may represent stronger limitations to species expansion than climate change itself. Full article

Habitat degradation and fragmentation pose severe threats to biodiversity in protected areas, including the Giant Panda National Park (GPNP). Effective restoration strategies are urgently needed to enhance habitat connectivity and support the recovery of giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca David, 1869) populations. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of targeted artificial restoration measures on plant diversity and community structure in four typical degraded habitats within the Niba Mountain Corridor of the GPNP. Over a three-year monitoring period, vegetation surveys and infrared camera trapping were conducted across pure plantations and secondary forests, with/without bamboo, using suitable habitats as controls. The results showed that: (1) Artificial restoration significantly increased shrub layer species richness and Shannon–Wiener index in most degraded habitats, approaching control levels after two years, while herb layer diversity initially increased then declined due to shrub competition. (2) Sorensen’s similarity between degraded and suitable habitats increased over time, rising from 0.08–0.42 to 0.46–0.67 for the shrub layer and from 0.09–0.22 to 0.30–0.40 for the herb layer. (3) Key species showing high variability during restoration included Litsea pungens Hemsl., Actinidia spp., Salix spp., Rubus spp., Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser, Carex spp., and Elatostema involucratum Franch. et Savat. (4) Bamboo regeneration was enhanced with peak live shoots in 2024. (5) Increased activity of medium-to-large mammals, notably the tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus Milne-Edwards, 1872), may indicate initial stages of functional recovery for resources in the restored habitats. The results confirmed that differentiated artificial restoration can effectively promote species diversity recovery and habitat convergence, providing a scientific basis for optimizing GPNP corridor management and improving population connectivity for giant pandas. Full article

The analysis of the physical and chemical properties of blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.), strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duchesne ex Weston) and raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) seeds recovered from pomace—food processing waste—was carried out. The weight of the one thousand seeds, their dry weight, swelling properties, and color in the CIE L*a*b* space, as well as the percentage of basic chemical components, i.e., protein, carbohydrate (including total dietary fiber, insoluble fiber, and soluble dietary fiber), fat, and ash were determined. Polyphenols content and antioxidant activity was determined. In addition, the amounts of individual phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and amino acids, as well as macro and micro-nutrients, were identified and analyzed. The potential usefulness of raspberry seeds as a rheology modifier of cosmetics and food products was estimated due to the high content of mucilage and swelling index similar to linseed and a favorable color with a high value of the b* parameter (22.1) corresponding to yellow color simultaneously with high luminescence (L* = 59.4). Oils obtained from all tested seeds are potentially useful in cosmetic preparations due to the high content of n-6 acids (50.4–71.5%), and oils from strawberry and raspberry seeds as a result of containing n-3 acids, respectively; 30.5–32.3% may be beneficial for dietary supplementation. In addition, the dietary values of the tested seeds are emphasized by the high content of dietary fiber (53.1–63.1%), antioxidant properties (the highest for blackcurrant) and the presence of phenolic compounds such as procyanidin derivatives, catechins (raspberry), quercetins and kaempferols (blackcurrant), and pelargonidin (strawberry). Full article

Accurate species identification in blackberries (Rubus spp.) is difficult because of morphological similarity and frequent hybridization. We studied 56 wild accessions from the Sirius Federal Territory (Russia), representing coastal and foothill ecosystems of the Black Sea region. Multilocus DNA barcoding with the plastid rbcL gene and nuclear ITS1 and ITS2 regions revealed signals of hybridization and hidden diversity. The rbcL marker showed low variation, grouping most accessions into two clusters with several singletons, which limited its use for distinguishing species. In contrast, ITS1 and ITS2 showed higher variation, forming six clusters and eight singletons, and allowed for clear separation of taxa such as Rubus caesius L., R. irritans Focke, and R. amabilis Focke. Accession 3 carried a raspberry (closely to R. corchorifolius L.fil) plastid haplotype, pointing to a hybrid origin. We also found groups of nearby plants with identical mutations, which likely reflect clonal spread with fixed somatic changes or the persistence of recent hybrid lineages. At the same time, accessions collected up to 140 km apart did not form separate clusters, showing weak geographic structuring along the coast. The results demonstrate that multilocus barcoding can reveal not only species boundaries but also evolutionary processes among Rubus such as hybridization, clonal propagation, and early stages of speciation. Full article

Although global raspberries production has grown in the past decade, it remains threatened by plant viruses. This study surveyed raspberry viruses and associated arthropods in the Czech Republic between 2021 and 2022 across five regions. A total of 257 plant and 151 arthropod samples were tested using RT-(q)PCR for 12 viruses listed in the EPPO Certification scheme, plus raspberry leaf blotch virus (RLBV) and a novel virus, tentatively named raspberry-associated virus A (RaVA). Raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV) was most prevalent (51.8%), followed by black raspberry necrosis virus (BRNV, 42.0%) and raspberry leaf mottle virus (RLMV, 28.4%). Four viruses—arabis mosaic virus, apple mosaic virus, strawberry latent ringspot virus, raspberry ringspot virus—were not detected. RBDV was also identified in Sambucus nigra, a new host, while mixed RLBV and RaVA infection was found in wild Rubus occidentalis. RLBV was experimentally transmitted to Nicotiana occidentalis 37B in the presence of Phyllocoptes gracilis. Seven of 39 arthropod species carried viruses, but only two—Amphorophora rubi idaei and Aphis idaei—are known vectors. PCR amplicons from 92 isolates were sequenced, revealing high variability in several viruses. These findings offer new insights but highlight the need for continued monitoring and research. Full article

This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of recent YOLO architectures, YOLOv8s, YOLOv9s, YOLOv10s, YOLO11s, and YOLO12s, for the detection of red, yellow, and purple raspberry fruits under field conditions. Images were collected using an smartphone camera under varying illumination, weather, and occlusion conditions. Each model was trained and evaluated using standard object detection metrics (Precision, Recall, mAP₅₀, mAP_50:95, F₁-score), while inference performance was benchmarked on both high-performance (NVIDIA RTX 5080) and embedded (NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX) platforms. All models achieved high and consistent detection accuracy across fruits of different colors, confirming the robustness of the YOLO algorithm design. Compact variants provided the best trade-off between accuracy and computational cost, whereas deeper architectures yielded marginal improvements at higher Latency. TensorRT optimization on the Jetson device further enhanced real-time inference, particularly for embedded deployment. The results indicate that modern YOLO architectures have reached a level of architectural maturity, where advances are driven by optimization and specialization rather than structural redesign. These findings underline the strong potential of YOLO-based detectors as core components of intelligent, edge-deployable systems for precision agriculture and automated fruit detection. Full article

Blackberry (Rubus subg. Eubatus Focke) ranks among the four most commercially valuable berry crops globally, alongside raspberry, strawberry, and blueberry, owing to its high antioxidant content—particularly flavonoids, anthocyanins, and polyphenols. Compared to other berry crops, blackberry cultivation requires lower labor and financial inputs, with plantations remaining productive for 12–15 years. In Russia, total blackberry area is limited (~100 ha), and the Moscow Region is particularly suited for trailing and semi-trailing cultivars with early-to-mid-season ripening. This three-year study (2021–2023) conducted at the Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden (RAS) evaluated ten promising blackberry cultivars to (i) assess interrelationships among phenological, morphological, and fruit quality traits; and (ii) identify optimal market niches for each genotype. Cultivars were grouped by ripening time: early (‘Karaka Black’, ‘Loch Tay’, ‘Natchez’) and medium (‘Columbia Sunrise’, ‘Hall’s Beauty’, ‘Caddo’, ‘Columbia Giant’, ‘Victoria’, ‘Brzezina’). Morphologically, ‘Columbia Giant’, ‘Columbia Star’, ‘Columbia Sunrise’, ‘Hall’s Beauty’, and ‘Loch Tay’ exhibited the most balanced architecture. For fresh-market retail, ‘Hall’s Beauty’ (650.3 gf), ‘Loch Tay’ (632.0 gf), and ‘Victoria’ (882.2 gf) stood out for high fruit firmness, whereas ‘Columbia Giant’ (11.5 g fruit mass, 354.1 gf) is recommended for direct consumer sales due to its large fruit size and acceptable firmness. Key trait associations included flowering duration and drupelet number (r = −0.83); fruiting onset and lateral length (r = 0.75); central leaflet length and fruiting laterals per shoot (r = −0.86); fruit number per lateral and Soluble Solids Content (SSC, r = 0.83); and lateral length (r = 0.84). These findings indicate the importance of proper variety selection for establishing blackberry plantations in the specific climatic conditions of the Moscow Region. Full article

The subject of the study were carotenoids, especially xantophylls in the fruits of various species/cultivars of raspberries, including those cultivated in Poland and those originating from other regions of the world (China, Finland): Rubus occidentalis (5 cultivars); Rubus idaeus (2 cultivars red fruited and 3 cultivars yellow fruited); Rubus chamaemorus; and Rubus chingii and hybrids: R. occidentalis/R. idaeus (2) and R. idaeus/R. occidentalis (1). Based on spectrophotometric analysis, the highest carotenoid content was found in cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus) fruits, while the lowest was recorded for black raspberry cultivars. Similar carotenoid content results were obtained using thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The xantophyll profiles in the plant material studied were characterized—depending on the species/cultivar or hybrid—by the presence of β-apo-10′-luteinal, trans-lutein, and zeaxanthin. In addition, the antioxidant activity of the obtained hexane–acetone extracts were evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays, as well as using the TLC-DB with DPPH radical. bioautography test. Full article

Blackberry (Rubus L.) cultivation in Kazakhstan is constrained by the limited availability of certified planting material and the absence of standardized micropropagation protocols adapted to local conditions. This study aimed to optimize the key stages of in vitro culture for the cultivars ‘Natchez’, ‘Black Magic’, ‘Osage’, and ‘Heaven Can Wait’, including explant sterilization, culture initiation, shoot multiplication, and acclimatization. A sequential sterilization scheme using 70% ethanol followed by 1% sodium hypochlorite ensured high explant survival. Shoot initiation was most efficient on MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/L BAP, whereas multiplication was enhanced by 0.5 mg/L BAP and 0.1 mg/L GA₃. In the subsequent rooting stage, microcuttings formed stable root systems under ex vitro conditions in agroboxes, confirming that the optimized protocol ensured not only high survival during initiation but also a successful transition to the rooting phase, which is essential for further acclimatization. During ex vitro acclimatization, the application of humic acid, nanosilicon, or succinic acid improved survival under agrobox microventilation. The developed approach provides a reliable framework for producing healthy, adapted plants of the evaluated cultivars and contributes to establishing domestic propagation systems for reducing reliance on imported planting material. Full article

This study addresses the environmental challenge of end-of-life tire accumulation, a major source of toxic metals such as lead and cadmium in marine ecosystems. As a sustainable solution, multicomponent metal-oxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄, ZnO, CaO, MgO, and minor CaCO₃) were green-synthesized from sugarcane bagasse and stabilized with blackberry (Rubus glaucus) extract. Structural characterization (XRD, SEM, TEM, and EDS) confirmed their crystalline inorganic composition. Pb²⁺ was almost completely removed (95–99%) within 15–30 min using 50–100 mg of nanoparticles, with ~80–90% efficiency at 75 mg. Cd²⁺ removal showed dose-dependent kinetics: ~90% removal occurred within 10 min at 75 mg, while 50 and 100 mg reached ~60–70% after 60 min. Equilibrium, kinetic, and thermodynamic analyses revealed that Pb²⁺ adsorption followed the Langmuir model (R² = 0.982) with monolayer chemisorption, whereas Cd²⁺ obeyed the Freundlich model (R² = 0.945), indicating heterogeneous multilayer adsorption. Pb²⁺ removal fitted a pseudo-second-order model (R² = 0.991), while Cd²⁺ followed a pseudo-first-order behavior (R² = 0.958). Thermodynamic parameters (ΔG° < 0, ΔH° > 0, ΔS° > 0) confirmed a spontaneous and endothermic process. Sugarcane-bagasse-derived Fe₃O₄–ZnO–CaO–MgO nanomaterials act as sustainable and effective adsorbents for marine heavy metal removal. Full article

The distinctive geographical environment of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau has nurtured a variety of anthocyanin-rich berry plants. This review systematically summarizes the current state of research on anthocyanins obtained from Lycium ruthenicum Murr. (LRAs), Nitraria tangutorun Bobr (NTAs), and Rubus idaeus (RAs) for their potential health benefits and use. The anthocyanins found in these three berries have attracted considerable interest for their significant biological effects, such as their antioxidant, anti-aging, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective activities, as well as their ability to regulate the gut microbiota and inhibit cancer cells. These anthocyanins have potential applications as natural colorants, packaging materials and smart labels, as well as functional food and health supplements in the food industry. They have diverse molecular architectures with glycosylation and acylation profiles. The structural features of anthocyanins are closely related to their biological activities. This review provides a detailed overview of the chemical structures, synthesis pathways, biological activities, and applications in the food industry of LRAs, NTAs, and RAs. This summary offers a theoretical foundation for exploring plant resources characteristic of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau and for the development and utilization of high-value-added functional foods, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Full article

This study examines the antidiabetic potential of Rubus ulmifolius, a shrub traditionally used for medicinal and nutritional purposes. The aim was to assess the fruit extract’s inhibitory effect on α-amylase and α-glucosidase, therapeutic targets in type 2 diabetes (T2D), given their role in carbohydrate digestion. Considering the role of islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) aggregation in pancreatic β-cell dysfunction in T2D, the extract’s effect on inhibiting this process was also evaluated. Cytocompatibility and antioxidant effects were tested in Caco-2 cells, while caspase-1 activity was measured to evaluate anti-inflammatory potential. Phytochemical analysis of R. ulmifolius fruits revealed various phenolic compounds, with anthocyanin as the most abundant one. The cyanidin-3-O-glucoside accounted for 86% of all anthocyanins. Among flavonoids, the most represented ones were quercetin-HMG-glucoside and a kaempferol derivative, while ellagic acid glucuronide was the predominant ellagitannin. The extract showed significantly higher α-glucosidase inhibition with an IC₅₀ value of 2.8 µg/mL, 32 times more effective than acarbose, and it markedly inhibited IAPP aggregation in a dose-dependent manner. It demonstrated antioxidant activity in cellular and acellular systems, without cytotoxicity. Caspase-1 activity was also reduced in intestinal cells. These findings support R. ulmifolius fruits as a promising functional food for managing T2D and preserving pancreatic function. Full article