Page 184 - Plant Canada 2024 Proceeding

PLANT CANADA 2024

to identify the fungi using the β-tubulin 2 (Tub2), internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of the nuclear ribosomal
sequence and the eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1-α (eEF1α) genomic region. Of the 45
symptomatic samples collected, incidence of the aggressive species Neopestalotiopsis sp. was 29%.
Symptoms of Neopestalotiopsis disease include leaf spot, crown rot, root rot and dieback. In leaves, leaf
spots of Neopestalotiopsis sp. can be confused with leaf scorch (Diplocarpon earlianum), leaf spot
(Mycosphaerella fragariae) or phomosis blight (Phomopsis obscurans). In fruits, Neopestalotiopsis sp.
symptoms can resemble anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.). In crowns and foliage, symptoms of
Neopestalotiopsis sp. are similar to those of Phytophthora sp. or Colletotrichum spp. Since visual
observations of Neopestalotiopsis disease are unreliable, a sensitive and specific derived cleaved
amplified polymorphic sequence (dCAP) was identified, and a marker developed to differentiate between
the aggressive and less aggressive species of Neopestalotiopsis using a multi-locus sequence typing
(MLST) strategy. To identify resistance to the aggressive species of Neopestalotiopsis, F1 hybrid
germplasm from the University of Guelph strawberry breeding program was screened. Detached leaf and
whole plant infection assays identified a line with a high level of resistance to Neopestalotiopsis sp. with
an average lesion diameter significantly smaller than susceptible day neutral ‘Albion’ and moderately
susceptible June-bearing ‘Jewel’. Future efforts will examine the stability of this resistance and
application of the germplasm in an integrated pest management strategy.

*[O158] THE DIVERSITY OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUND PROFILES IN CANADIAN PRAIRIE SMALL
FRUITS AND THEIR ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-HYPERTENSIVE POTENTIAL AS FUNCTIONAL
1,2
3,4
1
1,4
FOODS. Chamali Kodikara 1,2,3 , Sura Srinivas , Nandika Bandara , Thomas Netticadan , Sijo Joseph ,
and Champa Wijekoon 1,2,3 1
. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Morden Research and Development
2
Centre, Morden, Manitoba, Canada, R6M 1Y5. Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and
Medicine, Winnipeg, MB R3C 1B2, Canada. Department of Food & Human Nutritional Sciences,
3
University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada; and Richardson Centre for Food Technology
4
and Research (RCFTR), University of Manitoba, 196 Innovation Drive, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2,
Canada
Correspondence to: Kodikarc@myumanitoba.ca

Background: Prairie berries are cold hardy fruits consumed by Canadians for their perceived health
benefits. Phenolic compounds and fatty acids are important groups of bioactive molecules in berries.
Assessment of the antioxidant and anti-hypertensive properties of the berries enables us to identify them
as a potential functional food for human health.
Research objective or question(s): To examine the contents of phenolic compounds, fatty acid
composition, antioxidant activities and anti-hypertensive capacities of fifteen different berries grown in
prairies.
Methods: The UHPLC-HRMS method was developed and used for the comprehensive and simultaneous
analysis of 66 phenolic compounds in 14 different types of Canadian wild berries. GC-MS was used to
analyze the fatty acids in the aforementioned berries. Total phenolic content (TPC), DPPH free radical
scavenging assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP), ACE inhibitory activity assay and the
assessment of total flavonoid content were conducted to check the antioxidant and antihypertensive
potential of all the selected wild berry types.
Results: Wild grapes were rich in phenolic compounds such as resveratrol (4.2±0.02 µg/g), while
gooseberries were rich in isoquercetin (84.8±0.08 µg/g) and paracoumaric acid. Moreover, saskatoon
berries were rich in chlorogenic acid and quercetin. Rutin and chlorogenic acid were the most abundant
phenolic compounds in chokecherry. Essential fatty acids such as linoleic and linolenic acids were found
in wild grapes, seabuckthorn and Saskatoon berries. The highest TPC was found in nanny berries
whereas the highest FRAP was found in chokeberries. Snowberries showed the highest DPPH activity
and chokecherries had the highest ACE inhibitory activity followed by haskap berries.
Discussion: Recent findings have shown that diets that are rich in antioxidants can protect humans
against degenerative diseases such as diabetes, neurogenerative and cardiovascular diseases. A novel
UHPLC-HRMS method and GC-MS analysis of fatty acids proved that the underutilized wild berries
consist of unique and beneficial phenolic compounds and essential fatty acids. In addition, they may act
as potential antioxidants as well as antihypertensive agents. The information from this study may help in

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