title: Effects of temperature and photoperiod on yield and chemical composition of northern and southern clones of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.).
abstract: After pollination outdoors, individual bilberry plants from two Northern and two Southern clones were studied for climatic effects on berry yield and quality in a controlled phytotrone experiment at 12 and 18 °C. At each temperature, the following light treatments were tested: (1) 12 h natural light, (2) 24 h natural light, and (3) 24 h natural light plus red light. The first experimental year there was no difference in yield between temperatures; however, the second experimental year the berry yields was significantly higher at 18 °C. Berry ripening was faster in the Northern than in the Southern clones at 12 °C. Northern clones also showed significantly higher contents of total anthocyanins, all measured anthocyanin derivatives, total phenolics, malic acid and sucrose. Metabolic profiling revealed higher levels of flavanols, hydroxycinnamic acids, quinic acid and carbohydrates at 12 °C.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research, Bioforsk Nord Holt, Box 2284, N-9269 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Eivind
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Uleberg
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rohloff
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jaakola
authors.forename: Kajetan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Trôst
authors.forename: Olavi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Junttila
authors.forename: Hely
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Häggman
authors.forename: Inger
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martinussen
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D017440:Photoperiod; D013696:Temperature; D029800:Vaccinium myrtillus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development*