‘Stressing’ soft-fruit crops through the growing period could help enhance their nutritional benefits and offer new opportunities for breeding, Dr Chris Atkinson told delegates at this year’s Meiosis Soft Fruit Conference & Fruit Walk, at East Malling in Kent.
Atkinson, executive of East Malling Research’s science management team, explained how bioactive compounds, such as vitamin C and ellagic acid, could be enhanced in strawberries and blackcurrants through crop management.
He said mild stresses could kick-start the antioxidant process. And adjusting irrigation through partial root-drying, applying reflective treatments to planting sites and considered applications of nitrogen, all affected the nutritional benefits of fruit during trials at the company’s research station.
“There are clear benefits to higher consumption of fruit in relation to reducing the impact of heart attacks and strokes,” he said. “If we use stress we can kid plants into producing higher levels of antioxidants…and this could provide opportunities for breeding.”
This year’s event provided a diverse discussion platform for soft-fruit specialists, with a marked international focus.
In addition, delegates were invited to sample new raspberry variety Cowichan, which East Malling has already tipped to be well-received by the industry.
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