Cranberry Quality: Selection Procedures for Breeding Programs1

Abstract

Abstract Samples of 45 cranberry clones ( Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) were analyzed for factors relating to fruit quality and processability to develop selection procedures for breeding programs. High correlations were obtained between tristimulus reflectance measurements on whole or pureed cranberries and the juice color, determined by spectrophotometric or tristimulus transmission measurements. Differences between cranberry samples in the proportions of individual anthocyanins were small and not correlated with berry or juice color. A 3-stage sequence of simple measurements, entailing minimal sample preparation, was developed for selection. First- and second-stage selections were based on the application of discriminant analysis to tristimulus reflectance data obtained with whole and pureed cranberry samples, respectively. In the third stage, selections were based on analytical measurements performed on juice prepared from samples selected in the preceeding stages.