U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is working to preserve the production of cranberries in response to growing concerns for the fruit’s future with the looming threat of climate change.
With hotter weather expected as climate change develops, cranberry production regions stand to be impacted as the tart fruit is known to be sensitive to heat stress, a USDA press release said.
“It's important for us to understand the interaction between a cranberry's genetics and its environment,” ARS Research Geneticist Jeffrey Neyhart said in the release. “Once we understand this interaction, we'll be able to protect and increase productivity, fruit quality, stress tolerance, and disease resistance.”
Major cranberry production regions include the states of Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin, which have all experienced warming climates over the last century, the release said. New Jersey and Massachusetts have seen some of the most rapid warming.
One of the leads ARS is looking into is the gene pool of wild cranberries, which may offer clues for improving the resiliency of the cultivated cranberry.
“We were able to identify genomic segments in the wild cranberry that correlate with stresses such as extreme temperatures, soil pH, and drought,” Neyhart said in the release. “Selecting these genomic segments in breeding can help us to efficiently move more favorable wild genetics into new cranberry varieties.”
ARS researchers are also trying to better understand heat tolerance in cranberries to improve cranberry cultivar recommendations for growers based on their location or management practices, the release said. Such research and more will continue to be explored into 2022 and beyond.
