Better sea-buckthorn berries
The sea-buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) is a drought- and salinity-resistant plant that can grow in poor soil conditions. It has recently generated interest as a nutritious berry crop and as a way to prevent soil erosion. Funded by the EU, the HIPPOHEALTH project aimed to investigate desirable traits like fruit flavour and resistance to dried-shrink disease in plant collections from China and Sweden. This research effort is intended to support the development of new sea-buckthorn cultivars. Scientists first analysed the chemical make-up of fruits from different sea-buckthorn cultivars before linking their findings to the genetics of each cultivar. Taste testing was also conducted, revealing that consumers strongly preferred sweeter berries. From these studies, HIPPOHEALTH identified several chemical compounds that served as predictors of tasty berries. Coupled with genetic data, researchers now have information that can be used to breed more palatable sea-buckthorn cultivars. All of the data generated by HIPPOHEALTH will be incorporated into an evaluation tool that plant breeders can use to rate new cultivars. This will contribute to improved commercial production of sea-buckthorn.
