Webinar: Willingness to Pay for Blueberries: Sensory Attributes, Fruit Quality Traits, and Consumers’ Characteristics
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September 16, 2024 (12:00 pm CDT, 1:00 pm EST) | Zoom | Speaker: Dr. Elizabeth Canales, Mississippi State UniversityRegister hereUnderstanding consumers’ preferences for fruit quality attributes is key to informing breeding efforts, meeting consumer…
Team Spotlight: Dr. Jenyne Loarca
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In our Team Spotlight Series, we want to introduce you to the team members who help make VacCAP possible through their passion and hard work. In this segment, get to know Dr. Jenyne Loarca, a Principal Investigator (AFRI NIFA Postdoctoral Fellowship) at…
Identification of Molecular and Genetic Markers Associated With Resistance to Anthracnose Fruit Rot
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Image of a blueberry fruit exhibiting symptoms and signs of anthracnose fruit rot in the field. Photo by Timothy Miles Anthracnose fruit rot is among the most destructive and widespread fruit disease of blueberries across the United States, impacting…
Mitigating Cranberry Fruit Rot Through Breeding for Resistance
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Cranberries with low wax (above; note the shiny fruit surface) and high wax (below). Photos by Lindsay Erndwein Fresh ripe cranberries add a bright festive touch to holiday meals. Cranberries are also used to make sweetened dried cranberries (SDCs),…
The CRISPR Question: Would Consumers Accept CRISPR Cranberries with Reduced Added Sugar?
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CRISPR is a powerful gene editing tool, but how do consumers view this technology if it were to deliver cranberry products with less added sugar and improved flavor? Would they “buy into” CRISPR cranberries?These are just some of the questions that Dr.…
Cranberry Fruit Epicuticular Wax Benefits and Identification of a Wax-Associated Molecular Marker
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Student Spotlight: Özgecan Yalçın
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In our Student Spotlight Series, we want to introduce you to the students who help make VacCAP possible through their passion and hard work. In this segment, get to know Özgecan Yalçın, a graduate student of Horticulture, Plant Breeding and Genetics at…
Breeder Spotlight: Dr. Ebrahiem Babiker
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In our Breeder Spotlight Series, we interview blueberry and cranberry breeders to learn more about their roles, challenges in their breeding programs, and have them highlight some of their favorite new cultivars. In this spotlight, we spoke to Dr.…
A Deeper Look Into Blueberry Cell Wall Composition and Fruit Firmness Phenotypes
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Ripe blueberry fruit vary widely in perceived firmness depending on cultivar and species, and consumers pick up on these differences. Our consumers want fresh market blueberries to be consistent from berry to berry in both firmness and flavor. Since…
Blueberry Grower Survey 2023
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