Subcritical water extraction (SWE) is an eco-friendly new extraction technology because it does not contain harmful organic solvent and has high extraction efficiency in a short time compared with conventional extraction methods. Blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) are widely known as superfood due to rich source of anthocyanin (malvidin-3-o-galgctoside) and antioxidant activity. In this study, optimal extraction condition of SWE from blueberries was determined and compared with the conventional extraction methods. SWE was carried out using a Dionex Accelerated Solvent Extractor (ASE, Model 350) under conditions of temperatures (110, 130, 150 and 170°C) and times (1, 3, 5 and 10 min). Total anthocyanin of SWE extracts was compared with hot water (60°C, 1 h) extract and pressed juice extract. The total anthocyanin content was determined by pH differential method. Considering both the extraction time and temperature conditions, the highest content of total anthocyanin content was 0.455 mg/g FW Vaccinium corymbosum at 130°C for 3 min. At high temperature and long extraction time, the anthocyanin in the blueberries will undergo thermal degradation due to low stability of anthocyanin at extreme condition. Besides, maximum yield of anthocyanin from blueberries using SWE was about 1.2 and 3.8 times more higher than hot water extract and pressed juice extract, respectively. Therefore, SWE is faster and more efficient method to extract anthocyanin from blueberries than conventional extraction methods. This study shows a possibility of SWE applied to food processing industry.

블루베리 재배시 토양 유기물 공급원으로 쓰이고 있는 피트모스가 전량 수입에 의존하고 있어 국내에서 생산되는 소나무잎, 왕겨, 톱밥 등 유기물을 블루베리 정식 전 피트모스와 혼합처리 한 후 토양 pH 변화와 생육 및 과실 특성에 미치는 영향을 구명하고자 본 시험을 수행하였다. 시험품종은 2년생 북부 하이부시 블루베리 ‘Duke’ 품종이었고 묘목 정식 전 피트모스를 근권에 20L 단용으로 처리하는 방법과 피트모스(10L)와 소나무잎, 왕겨, 톱밥을 각각 10L씩 혼합 처리하는 방법으로 실시하였다. 유기물의 화학성 분석 결과 pH는 피트모스가 4.3으로 가장 낮았고 소나무잎은 4.8, 왕겨는 7.3, 톱밥은 5.7이었다. 정식 직후 유기물을 투여한 토양의 pH는 5.3~5.9 로 나타났고 피트모스단용, 피트모스+소나무잎 처리가 왕겨, 톱밥 혼합처리에 비해 낮았다. 정식 후 3년차 토양 pH는 4.2~4.5로 피트모스단용, 피트모스+소나무잎 처리에서 낮게 유지되었다. 유기물 조성에 따른 생육 시기 별 토양수분 함량은 피트모스+소나무잎>피트모스단용> 피트모스+톱밥>피트모스+왕겨 순으로 높게 나타났다. 생육은 피트모스 단용과 피트모스+소나무잎 처리에서 양호하였고 꽃눈수가 많아 초기 수량이 많았다. 당도는 피트모스 단용 처리에서 11.3 oBrix로 높았고 경도는 피트 모스+소나무잎 처리에서 증가되었으나 과실 품질에 있어 처리별 유의차는 없었다.

고부가가치 식품 산업에서 블루베리의 산업적 활용 가능성을 확인하고자 주요 영양성분 분석, in vitro 항산화 활성, 그리고 아세트콜린에스터레이즈 (AChE) 효소 저해 활성을 연구하였다. 블루베리에 포함된 주요 미네랄 중 칼슘이 가장 풍부한 것으로 분석되었고, 아미노산은 주로 aspartic acid와 glutamic acid로 구성 되었다. 지방산의 분포는 76.78%의 포화지방산과 23.21%의 불포화 지방산으로 구성되었으며, vitamin C는 22.48 mg/100 g으로 분석되었고 주요 유리당으로서는 과당과 포도당이 검출되었다. 생리적인 활성 효과를 확인하고자 블루베리의 에탄올 추출물을 염산, 에틸아세테이트, 그리고 산성메탄올을 이용하여 분획하였다. Total phenolics 함량은 각각 1.65, 2.31 그리고 4.45 mg of GAE / g 어었으며, in vitro 항산화 효과로서의 FRAP assay와 MDA 생성 저해 효과는 안토시아닌 분획물에서 농도 의존적으로 증가하였다. 또한 에탄올 추출물, 비 안토시아닌 분획물 그리고 안토시아닌 분획물에서 모두 AChE 활성을 억제하는 것으로 나타났으나, 특히 블루베리의 안토시아닌 분획물에 의해 억제되는 양상이 우수한 것으로 확인되었다. 결과적으로 다양한 영양성분을 포함하는 블루베리의 안토시아닌 분획물은 우수한 in vitro 항산화 효과와 AChE 저해 활성을 가지는 것으로 확인되었다.

외국에서 도입한 블루베리의 내한성을 평가하고, 목재수분계측기가 월동 중 블루베리 가지의 동해피해를 간편하고 신속하게 진단하는데 활용할 수 있는지를 알아보기 위하여 수행되었다. 월동 중 블루베리의 가지의 고사율은 0~100%로 다양하게 나타나 품종별 내한성의 차이가 컸다. 블루베리 가지의 저온처리에 따른 TTC 검정에서 품종별 OD값은 -40℃ 〈 -21℃ 〈 4℃ 순으로 처리온도가 낮을수록 낮게 나타났다. 블루베리 가지의 저온처리에 따른 가지절단면의 색의 검정은 가지고 사율에 의한 내한성과 다른 결과와 차이가 있었다. 목재수분계측기에 의해 측정된 살아있는 블루베리 가지의 월동 중 최저 수분함량은 약 15%였으며, 월동 중 블루베리 가지의 위치별 수분함량은 나무 아랫부분일수록 높고 가지 끝으로 갈수록 낮았으나, 봄으로 접어들면서 가지 끝의 수분함량이 점점 높아져 20~40% 범위로 측정되었다. 월동 중 동해피해를 받은 가지는 점점 건조되어 수분함량이 5% 이하로 낮아졌다. 동해를 받은 블루베리 가지의 수분함량은 14% 수준 이하일 것으로 추정되며, 목재수분계측기가 블루베리 가지의 동해피해를 현장에서 신속하게 진단하는데 활용될 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

The blueberry gall midge, Dasineura oxycoccana (Johnson)(Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), has known as a key pest of blueberries in the southeastern United States, Europe and Canada. It can cause considerable damage to developing blueberry flower buds and also injure vegetative growth by distorting and blackening shoot tips. Similar symptoms of damage, which mighty be caused by D. oxycoccana, have been investigated on blueberry plants(damage rate: 20~80% of total shoot tips), Vaccinium spp., in Hwaseong-si of Gyounggi-do in 2010. And, followed by an investigation on the occurrences of D. oxycoccana and its damages in 2010~2012. We emphasize caution concerning the possibilities that D. oxycoccana could infest flower buds and shoot on blueberries and developed monitoring methods and environment-friendly management strategies for D. oxycoccana on buleberry.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of branch extracts of Vaccinium oldhamii (VOB) on melanin synthesis in B16F10 cells. VOB promoted melanin production in absence or presence of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) in B16F10 cells. However, VOB did not affect the expression of tyrosinase and TRP-1 associated with melanin synthesis at the mRNA and protein levels in B16F10. But, VOB decreased TRP-2 protein level and induced tyrosinase activation in B16F10 cells. Inhibition of tyrosinase activity and tyrosinase knockdown attenuated VOB-mediated melanin synthesis. In conclusion, VOB may stimulate melanin synthesis through activating tyrosinase activity.

In this study, we investigated the effect of the extracts from Vaccinium oldhamii on cell proliferation and the regulatory mechanisms of cyclin D1 protein level in human cancer cells. The branch extracts from Vaccinium oldhamii (VOB) showed higher inhibitor effect against the cell growth than leave extracts (VOL) and fruit extracts (VOF) in human colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, non-small lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and liver cancer cells. In addition, VOB decreased cyclin D1 level at both protein and mRNA level. MG132 treatment attenuated VOB-mediated cyclin D1 downregulation. A point mutation of threonine-286 to alanine attenuated cyclin D1 degradation by VOB. In addition, the inhibition of nuclear export by leptomycin B (LMB) attenuated cyclin D1 degradation by VOB. But, the treatment of PD98059 (ERK1/2 inhibitor), SB203580 (p38 inhibitor), SP600125 (JNK inhibitor), LiCl (GSK3β inhibitor), LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) or BAY 11-7082 (IκK inhibitor) did not affect VOB-induced cyclin D1 degradation. In conclusion, VOB induced cyclin D1 degradation through redistribution of cyclin D1 from the nucleus to cytoplasm via T286 phosphorylation of cyclin D1, which resulted in the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation.

Background : Vaccinium oldhamii is a Korean native tree, which is deciduous and shrub tree with broad leaf. It was used primarily for edible or medicinal purposes for bladder infection in Korea and China. In addition, it has been reported to be used for treating inflammation, gonorrhea, vomiting, diarrhea and eruption. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of the branch of Vaccinium oldhamii and elucidated the potential mechanisms in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Methods and Results : In the comparative experiment for the inhibitory effect of the plant parts from Vaccinium oldhamii such as fruits, leaves and branches on NO production, we observed that the branch extracts showed the highest inhibitory effect. Thus, the further study was performed using the branch of Vaccinium oldhamii (VOB). VOB did not affect iNOS expression but significantly IL-1β expression, which indicates that VOB may block NO production through the inhibition of IL-1β expression. In elucidation of the potential mechanisms for anti-inflammatory effect, VOB inhibited the degradation of IκB-α which results in the inhibition of p65 nuclear accumulation and NF-κB activation. In addition, VOB suppressed the activation of ERK1/2, p38 and JNK. Conclusion : These results indicate that VOB may exert anti-inflammatory activity through the inhibiting NF-κB and MAPK signaling. From these findings, VOB has potential to be a candidate for the development of chemoprevention or therapeutic agents for the inflammatory diseases.

The aim of this study is to investigate the antioxidant and intracellular anti-inflammatory efficacy of blueberry leaf extracted with hot water (BLW), 70% ethanol (BLE), and 70% acetone (BLA) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. In order to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of blueberry leaf extracts, RAW 264.7 macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce the production of inflammation-related factors, which were measure by Western blotting and real-time PCR methods. i-NOS, COX-2 protein, and mRNA expression showed concentration-dependent decrease. The decreases in the mRNA expression levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were concentration-dependent. Further, the antioxidant effects of blueberry leaf on total polyphenol contents, electron donating ability and ABTS+ radical scavenging activity were evaluated. The total polyphenol contents of BLW, BLE, and BLA were 217.04±2.98, 156.72±3.90, and 182.88±3.02 mg TAE/g, respectively, while the electron donating abilities at 1,000 μg/mL of BLW, BLE, and BLA were 81.7, 79.6, and 79.3%, respectively. The ABTS+ radical scavenging activity was fond to be concentration dependent. The nitric oxide (NO) production inhibition activities at 50 μg/mL of BLW, BLE, and BLA were 35.1, 42.4 and 42.7%, respectively. In conclusion, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory test results indicate that blueberry leaf extracts (BLW, BLE, and BLA) can be used as potential anti-inflammatory agents.

For analysis of the relationship among blueberry cultivars, the growth period and morphological characteristics were investigated in 28 blueberry cultivars, and cluster analysis using the SAS program was conducted based on the morphological data. The harvest period was later and longer in rabbiteye blueberry cultivars (Austin, Brightwell, Powderblue, Southland, Tifblue) than in highbush blueberry cultivars. The L/D ratio of flower was more than 2.0 in the Austin, Brightwell, Powderblue, Southland, Tifblue, and Brigitta cultivars, and this could be disadvantageous for pollination. The 28 blueberry cultivars were classified into two groups by the cluster analysis based on growth period and morphological characteristics. Group I included rabbiteye blueberries and Group II included highbush blueberries. However, the northern, southern, and half-highbush blueberry cultivars were not differentiated.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the influence of vigor of a bearing shoot in ‘Bluecrop’ Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) on growth characteristics of shoots and fruits. Bearing shoots were classified with BS (bearing shoot) and BMB (bearing mother branch). The vigor of bearing shoots were divided into four arbitrary categories; A was thin (< 6.0 ㎜) BMB and short (< 10 ㎝) BS, B was thin BMB and long (≥ 10 ㎝) BS, C was thick (≥ 6 ㎜) BMB and short BS and D was thick BMB and long BS. Shoots from D were longer (6.5 ㎝) and thicker (1.70 ㎜) than those from the others. Shoots of D had more leaves (5.8 ea) than those of the others. Leaf area of D was larger (13.5 ㎠) than those of the others. The first harvest of D was one week faster than the others. Ratio of big berry (> 14 ㎜) from the long BSs was higher (B : 41.7, D : 46.8%) than that from the short BSs. Soluble solid content of small berrys did not show any different according to vigor of bearing shoots, but soluble solid content of big berrys of the long BSs was higher (B : 16.2, D : 15.6 o Bx) than those of the short BSs. The thickness of BMB did not affect ratio of fruit size and soluble soild content. The long BSs would be proper than the short BSs for bearing bigger fruits.

Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) is a member of the Ericaceae and eleven varieties have been registered at the Korea Seed & Variety Service for Plant Variety Protection (PVP). This study was to develop simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers next generation sequencing (NGS) analysis and to analysis genetic relationship of blueberry 31 varieties. Highbush blueberry ‘Camellia’ and rabbiteye blueberry ‘Alapaha’ varieties were used as sequencing materials. Out of total 987 SSR primers detected between ‘Camellia’ and ‘Alapaha’, 148 SSR primers were initially applied to select SSR markers for identification of blueberry varieties. Fourteen SSR markers showed polymorphism between 8 varieties. Seven SSR markers showed reproducibility and clear peak among 14 SSR markers. Genetic relationships of 31 blueberry varieties were analyzed and identified using 7 SSR markers. A total of 30 polymorphic SSR alleles were obtained and two to seven alleles were detected for each locus with an average of 4.3 alleles per locus. Average polymorphism information content was 0.556, ranging from 0.374 to 0.714. Genetic distance of clusters ranged from 0.38 to 0.93 by unweighted pair-group method with arithmetical average based on Jaccard’s distance coefficients. These newly developed SSR markers indicate usefulness for variety identification related to seed dispute and distinctness, uniformity and stability (DUS) test for blueberry.

국내 도입된 하이부쉬 블루베리의 품종 선발의 기초 자료로 활용하기 위하여 블루베리의 형태적 및 품종별 화기 특성에 관 해 연구하였다. 블루베리의 수술의 형태를 보면 화사는 판형이 었고 모용이 잘 발달되어 있으며, 개약 시 약벽이 열개되지 않고 돌출된 두 개의 관으로 꽃가루가 배출되어 독특하였다. 화분은 3월 하순경에 감수 분열된 후에 분리되지 않은 채로 성숙한 사분 자 화분(tetrad pollen)이었다. 약당 사분자 화분립 수는 400~ 1,300개였으며, 화분립 수가 많은 품종이 발아율도 높은 편이었 다. 블루베리의 암술은 5개의 심피로 구성되어 있으며, 화주는 갈라진 부분이 없이 하나였다. 자방당 배주 수는 39~67개 정도 였으며, 각 품종별로 변이 계수가 11.6~31.0%로 큰 편이었다. ‘Bluejay’와 ‘Sharpblue’간의 자가 및 타가교배 결과 자가교배보 다 타가교배에서 종자 형성률이 높았다.

모새나무는 국내 분포 정금나무속(Genus Vaccinium)식물 중 상록성이며 민간에서 열매를 식용으로 사용했던 종으로 산업화 가능성이 매우 높다. 따라서 제주도내 모새나무의 자생지 환경 및 개체특성 등을 조사하여 산업화 및 보호의 기초자료로 삼고자 실시하였다. 조사한 결과, 모새나무는 한라산 남사면에 많이 분포하였고, 해발 100~500 m에 주로 분포하였다. 조사방형구내 출현한 모새나무는 총 30개체로 평균수고 6.0 m, 평균흉고직경 7.8 cm로, 평균분지수 4.3개였다. 자생지의 군락 구조는 교목층의 평균식피율이 36%로 낮은 반면 아교목층이 평균식피율은 78%로 높게 나타나 아교목층이 중요한 위치를 차지하였다. 조사구내 총 출현한 종수는 76종으로 교목층에 상록침엽수 2종, 상록활엽수 3종, 낙엽활엽수 5종 등 총 10종이 출현하였고, 아교목층은 상록침엽수 1종, 상록활엽수 11종, 낙엽활엽수 10종 등 총 24종이 출현하였다. 이 중 상대기여도가 높은 종은 사스레피나무로서 모새나무를 위협하는 종이였다. 관목층은 생달나무 등 27종이 출현하였고, 초본층은 백량금 등 64종이 출현하였다. 모새나무 자생지간 유사성은 매우 낮아 특징적인 군락을 선호하지 않았고, 신례천의 모새나무 군락은 하천 사면이 아니라 사면과 연결된 주변에 분포하였으며, 분지가 많이 이루어졌으나 햇볕을 받지 못하는 가지들이 고사된 상태였고, 숲의 형성이 지속적으로 이루어질 경우 모새나무는 쇠퇴할 것으로 판단되었다.

The nutritional composition and in vitro anti-oxidant activities of blueberry (Vaccinium ashei) leaf extract were investigated to examine their physiological characteristics. Calcium was the most abundant mineral. The principal free sugars were glucose, sucrose, maltose, and fructose. The amino acids were mainly composed of glutamic acid and aspartic acid. The fatty acids consisted mainly of 40.94% saturated fatty acid and 54.35% unsaturated fatty acid. In addition, the 112.64 mg% of vitamin C was analyzed as a natural anti-oxidant. Based on the bioactivity-guided isolation principle, the resulting ethanolic extracts from the blueberry leaf were divided into several fractions of n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and water. The ethyl acetate fraction showed the greatest total phenolic content. The total phenolics and flavonoid were 50.51 mg of GAE /g and 13.09 mg%, respectively. The ABTS-radical-scavenging activity of the ethyl acetate fraction was 97.53% at a concentration of 500 μg/mL. The ferric-reducing anti-oxidant power of the ethyl acetate fraction increased in a dose-dependent manner. The results suggest that the ethyl acetate fraction of the blueberry leaf extract has good in vitro anti-oxidant activities and excellent nourishment, and can thus be useful food resources.

Vaccinium oldhami Miq. is a Korean native tree, which is deciduous and shrub tree with broad leaf. It grows 1~4m in height generally. Ecologically, this tree grows well in shady place even in barren soil. Also, the tree has resistance to cold and dry, which tend to form a little community. This research investigates quantitative morphological characteristics of leaf and fruit among the V. oldhami in South Korea and then considers its relationship on the basis of raw data among the 10 populations. This study will give us invaluable information about growing conditions, reasonable management and breeding by selection of V. oldhami in South Korea. The main results obtained from this study are summarized as follows; Leaf size of Mudeung population was larger than other populations. Naebyeon population was smaller in size of the leaf than other populations. Anmyeondo population was larger in fruit characteristics compared with other populations and Deogyu population was the smallest among populations. According to cluster analysis based on the leaf and fruit morphological characteristics, the natural V. oldhami populations were classified into four groups such as the first group of Kumo population, the second group of Mudeung population, the third group of Anmyundo, Daedun, Doolyun population and the fourth group of the other five populations.