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Introduction. One of the key tasks of the pharmaceutical industry is the search for new promising compounds – potential drug candidates. Natural objects, especially plants, have long been rich sources of new molecules and are widely used in the global food and pharmaceutical industries. Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus L.) is a perennial herb from the Rosaceae family. The fruits and leaves of R. chamaemorus contain a wide variety of polyphenolic secondary metabolites – hydrolysable/condensed tannins and flavonoids. Extracts enriched by polyphenols showed significant antiproliferative activity and inhibition of cell growth, and also induce cell apoptosis. As a result of our previous phytochemical research of R. chamaemorus leaves, five polyphenolic secondary metabolites belonging to the classes of tannins and flavonoids were isolated and characterized.Aim. Screening of previously isolated from R. chamaemorus individual compounds for the hemostasis system in vitro and identification of the most promising compounds for subsequent pharmaceutical development.Materials and methods. Experiments under in vitro conditions were performed on the blood of healthy male donors. The research of the effect on platelet aggregation was carried out according to the Born method on an AT-02 aggregometer (LLC "SPF "Medtech", Russia). Determination of anticoagulant activity was carried out by conventional clotting tests on a Solar CGL 2110 turbidimetric hemocoagulometer (CJSC "SOLAR", Russia). Cytofluorimetric analysis was performed on a NovoCyte instrument (Agilent Technologies, USA).Result and discussion. The influence of the isolated compounds 1–5 on the parameters of activation, platelet aggregation and the coagulation component of hemostasis was studied. At a concentration of 1.0 mg/ml, compounds 1–5 did not affect the fibrinogen concentration and prothrombin time. Compounds 1, 3 and 5 completely suppressed platelet activation at the studied concentrations. Compounds 1 and 3 showed antiaggregation activity comparible to the values of acetylsalicylic acid and are contained in all aqueous and alcoholic extracts of R. сhamaemorus leaves; their quantitative content varies depending on the extraction conditions.Conclusion. Thus, as a result of the screening of individual compounds 1–5 isolated from the leaves of R. chamaemorus their antiaggregating and anticoagulation properties were established. Compounds 1 (4-O-α-L-arabinofuranosylellagic acid) and 3 (quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucuronide) showed antiaggregation activity comparible to that of acetylsalicylic acid, and are the most promising of the studied series of compounds for the subsequent pharmaceutical development of new antiplatelet agents.

Experimentation of cloudberry cultivation has recently started in Latvia. Propagation is an essential part of cloudberry cultivation strategy, and it is an important step to ensure cloudberry survival and high vitality in field conditions. Optimal moisture conditions have to be determined for seedling development in the greenhouse. Potted cloudberries, cultivar 'Nyby', were grown at four different relative moisture levels of the substrate (in percent of the full waterholding capacity of the peat) - 50%, 60%, 70%, and 80%. Physiological measurements were taken once every week, including the concentration of total a and b chlorophyll in SPAD units and stomatal conductance in mmol m-2s-1. Morphological parameters, such as the number of leaves per pot, leaf size (cm), number of winter buds and visual score (from 1 to 5) were measured at the end of the vegetation season. Results revealed significant differences between the substrate moisture treatments for chlorophyll content in leaves, winter bud development and visual scoring. The authors note that slightly higher results were found for all parameters for the 80% treatment, following the tendency of increased plant vitality in higher moisture levels. This study indicates that a relative moisture of at least 70% of the full water-holding capacity of the peat is necessary for successful cloudberry growth and development under greenhouse conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubus chamaemorus in Europe is currently only found in scattered sites in Central Europe, mainly in mountainous areas but also in lowlands, probably reflecting its relict nature. Unfortunately, so far, there is little information on the genetic diversity of R. chamaemorus populations in Central Europe. Therefore, in this study, we used genetic markers to investigate variation in 21 of its European populations. Using a Bayesian approach, STRUCTURE software analysis was applied to the six clusters that best represented the genetic structure of the cloudberry populations. The results indicated the presence of low genetic diversity between populations in geographical groups, but high diversity between geographical regions. These results were somewhat predictable because the vast lowlands that separate the mountains in Poland from the population of R. chamaemorus in the north are a significant geographical barrier to gene flow over long geographical distances. Isolation by distance may also explain the genetic distinctness between populations found in the various regions in Poland and populations found in Scandinavia. It is likely that there is a genetic melting pot for R. chamaemorus in the region of northern Poland. This is often the case in small areas where populations from different geographic regions meet. It is often difficult to indicate the migration routes of species and to confirm where individual populations come from, but their occurrence is favored by isolation in mountain valleys and in forests, which are a barrier to the spread of pollen.

Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus L.) is a circumpolar boreal plant rich in bioactive compounds and is widely used in food and in folk medicine. In this study, a combination of two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy and liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry was used for the comprehensive characterization of secondary metabolites in cloudberry lipophilic and hydrophilic extracts. Special attention was paid to the leaf extractives, which are highly enriched in polyphenolic compounds, the content of which reaches 19% in the extract (in gallic acid equivalent). The chemical composition of the polyphenolic fraction is represented mainly by the glycosylated derivatives of flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic (primarily caffeic), gallic (including the structure of galloyl ascorbate) and ellagic acids, catechin, and procyanidins. The contents of aglycones in the polyphenolic fraction were 64 and 100 mg g−1 for flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids, respectively, while the content of free caffeic acid was 1.2 mg g−1. This determines the exceptionally high antioxidant activity of this fraction (750 mg g−1 in gallic acid equivalent) and the ability to scavenge superoxide anion radicals, which is 60% higher than that of Trolox. The lower polar fractions consist mainly of glycolipids, which include polyunsaturated linolenic acid (18:3), pentacyclic triterpenic acids, carotenoid lutein, and chlorophyll derivatives, among which pheophytin a dominates. Along with the availability, the high antioxidant and biological activities of cloudberry leaf extracts make them a promising source of food additives, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The emergence of new strains of microorganisms with multidrug resistance (MDR) is one of the most pressing problems of modern medicine. Currently, to combat MDR, active attempts are being made to obtain new biologically active substances of natural (microbial, plant, animal) origin. Earlier, 32 individual compounds were isolated by the authors from the aerial part of Iris laclea Pall., Rubus chameamorus L. leaves, Empetrum nigrum L. shoots, Ononis arvensis L. aerial part and Solidago canadensis L. aerial part, and 2 more compounds were synthesized according to previously published methods. The study of the antimicrobial activity of compounds of these classes is an urgent problem for finding potential agents for combating MDR.Aim. Studying of the antimicrobial activity of the isolated and synthesized substances in an individual form against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans.Materials and methods. To test the antimicrobial activity, substances of 34 compounds were used, which were obtained as a result of previous research, the structure of which were established using NMR spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry. The antifungal and antibacterial activity of the compounds were determined through the micromethod of two-fold serial dilutions in liquid nutrient medium in 96-well plates in duplicate. Screening for antimicrobial activity was carried out against reference (type) strains of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538-P, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Candida albicans NCTC 885-653.Results and discussion. In the group of flavonoids and O-, C-glycosides, the antifungal activity of all studied compounds did not differ significantly, but it should be noted that the antibacterial activity of apigenin C-glycosides and isoflavonoid O-glycosides was slightly greater in comparison to O-glycosides of flavonols. The greatest antimicrobial activity among the group of chalcones was shown directly by the chalcones themselves – chalcone, 2’, 4’-dihydroxychalcone, and 2’-hydroxy-4’-methoxychalcone. Among the dihydrochalcones, the highest antimicrobial activity was found for 2‘, 4’-dihydroxyhydrochalcone, which was comparable in magnitude to the antimicrobial activity of the chalcones themselves. An interesting feature of dihydrochalcones is that methylation of phenolic hydroxyl groups in the 2‘ and 4’ positions decreases the antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial activity of 9,10-dihydrophenanthrenes, as in the case of dihydrochalcones, depended on the number of methoxy groups in the molecule. The lowest MIC values were exhibited by 4,7-dihydroxy-2,3-dimethoxy-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene containing only two methoxy groups. For bibenzyls, an inverse dependence of antimicrobial activity on the number of methoxy groups was observed – the best activity among bibenzyls against the studied strains was shown by 1-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(3-hydroxy-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethane, which contains two methoxy groups in its structure.Conclusion. Polyphenolic secondary metabolites of plant origin belonging to the studied groups: flavonoids and O-, C-glycosides, chalcones, 9,10-dihydrophenanthrenes and bibenzyls did not show significant antimicrobial activity against the studied strains of microorganisms – S. aureus (6538 EP ATCC), E. coli (25922 ATCC) and C. albicans (885-653 NCTC). Despite this fact, a certain variation in antimicrobial activity was revealed depending on the structure of the tested substances.

Metabolic diseases linked to obesity are an increasing problem globally. They are associated with systemic inflammation, which can be triggered by nutrients such as saturated fatty acids. Cloudberry is rich in ellagitannin and its derivatives, which are known to have anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, a high-fat-diet-induced mouse model of obesity was used to study the effects of air-dried cloudberry powder on weight gain, systemic inflammation, lipid and glucose metabolism, and changes in gene expression in hepatic and adipose tissues. Cloudberry supplementation had no effect on weight gain, but it prevented the rise in the systemic inflammation marker serum amyloid A (SAA) and the hepatic inflammation/injury marker alanine aminotransferase (ALT), as well as the increase in the expression of many inflammation-related genes in the liver and adipose tissue, such as Mcp1, Cxcl14, Tnfa, and S100a8. In addition, cloudberry supplementation impeded the development of hypercholesterolemia and hyperglycemia. The results indicate that cloudberry supplementation helps to protect against the development of metabolic inflammation and provides partial protection against disturbed lipid and glucose metabolism. These results encourage further studies on the effects of cloudberry and cloudberry-derived ellagitannins and support the use of cloudberries as a part of a healthy diet to prevent obesity-associated metabolic morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus L.) is a circumpolar boreal plant rich in bioactive compounds and is widely used in food and in folk medicine. In this study, a combination of two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy and liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry was used for the comprehensive characterization of secondary metabolites in cloudberry lipophilic and hydrophilic extracts. Special attention was paid to the leaf extractives, which are highly enriched in polyphenolic compounds, the content of which reaches 19% in the extract (in gallic acid equivalent). The chemical composition of the polyphenolic fraction is represented mainly by the glycosylated derivatives of flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic (primarily caffeic), gallic (including the structure of galloyl ascorbate) and ellagic acids, catechin, and procyanidins. The contents of aglycones in the polyphenolic fraction were 64 and 100 mg g−1 for flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids, respectively, while the content of free caffeic acid was 1.2 mg g−1. This determines the exceptionally high antioxidant activity of this fraction (750 mg g−1 in gallic acid equivalent) and the ability to scavenge superoxide anion radicals, which is 60% higher than that of Trolox. The lower polar fractions consist mainly of glycolipids, which include polyunsaturated linolenic acid (18:3), pentacyclic triterpenic acids, carotenoid lutein, and chlorophyll derivatives, among which pheophytin a dominates. Along with the availability, the high antioxidant and biological activities of cloudberry leaf extracts make them a promising source of food additives, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

Metabolic diseases linked to obesity are an increasing problem globally. They are associated with systemic inflammation, which can be triggered by nutrients such as saturated fatty acids. Cloudberry is rich in ellagitannin and its derivatives, which are known to have anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, a high-fat-diet-induced mouse model of obesity was used to study the effects of air-dried cloudberry powder on weight gain, systemic inflammation, lipid and glucose metabolism, and changes in gene expression in hepatic and adipose tissues. Cloudberry supplementation had no effect on weight gain, but it prevented the rise in the systemic inflammation marker serum amyloid A (SAA) and the hepatic inflammation/injury marker alanine aminotransferase (ALT), as well as the increase in the expression of many inflammation-related genes in the liver and adipose tissue, such as Mcp1, Cxcl14, Tnfa, and S100a8. In addition, cloudberry supplementation impeded the development of hypercholesterolemia and hyperglycemia. The results indicate that cloudberry supplementation helps to protect against the development of metabolic inflammation and provides partial protection against disturbed lipid and glucose metabolism. These results encourage further studies on the effects of cloudberry and cloudberry-derived ellagitannins and support the use of cloudberries as a part of a healthy diet to prevent obesity-associated metabolic morbidity.

Phytochemical analysis of cloudberry leaves isolated one new (1) and four well-known compounds (2-5) and established their structures. Compounds 1 (4-O-α-L-arabinofuranosylellagic acid) and 2 [(–)-epicatechin] belonged to the tannin class. The rest of the isolated compounds were the flavonoid glucuronic glycosides quercetin 3-O-β-D-glucuronide (3), quercetin 3-O-β-D-2′′-galloylglucuronide (4), and kaempferol 3-O-β-D-glucuronide (5). Compounds 4 and 5 were isolated from Rubus chamaemorus L. for the first time. Predictions of the biological activity spectra for isolated 1-5 using the PASS program provided insights regarding the most promising directions for studying their biological activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus L.) is a wild perennial shrub growing on peatland with a circumpolar distribution. The combined berries have a high polyphenol content comprised primarily of ellagitannins. A few commercial cultivars are available, and prebreeding trials on clonal material from different geographical origins are in progress. The objective of this study was to investigate how the content of polyphenols of four different cloudberry cultivars were affected by harvesting time and climatic variations during a 3-yearperiod. Plants were grown outside in plots and berries were harvested when mature. Berries were analyzed for total polyphenols and total anthocyanins by spectrophotometer. Total ellagic acid was identified and quantified using HPLC-MS after hydrolysis of the extracts. Results showed that all measured parameters; total anthocyanins, total polyphenols and ellagic acid are strongly influenced by the genetic background. Although low anthocyanin contents were present in all genotypes, they were highly affected by climatic conditions, being highest at low temperatures. However, the content of ellagic acid was less affected by environmental conditions and showed little response to changing temperatures. In conclusion, ellagitannin content was the most dominating polyphenol group observed in this study and was affected by genetics and is therefore a good breeding criterion for increased health benefit of cloudberry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteins from leaves of Rubus chamaemorus propagated in vitro were subjected to miniaturized 2-D electrophoresis. The 2-DE patterns of proteins showed qualitative differences between plants propagated in vitro and control seedlings. More proteins of a high molecular weight were observed in leaves of plants from in vitro culture. A two-dimensional map of proteins from leaves provides detailed data concerning both polymorphism and protein patterns of this species. This makes it possible to start constructing a protein map of R. chamaemorus. The reasons for qualitative differences are discussed.

Finnish non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are valued on the national and international markets. Yet, the annual marketed quantities vary considerably, causing instability in supply chains. Thus, climatic and economic factors affecting the annually aggregated supply of top-marketed mushrooms (ceps, milk caps, and chanterelle) and berries (bilberry, cowberry, and cloudberry) in Finland were studied. Data on mushroom and berry market prices (€/kg) and quantities (kg) were obtained from the statistics on annual quantities of berries and mushrooms bought by organized trade and industry in Finland (1978−2016). The species-specific supply functions were described as linear regression models, where annually aggregated quantities were predicted as a function of climatic and economic variables. Our results suggested that climatic variables influenced the marketed quantities of NTFPs through the biological yields of berries and mushrooms, and that the market price had a negative effect on the marketed quantities of ceps, milk caps, and berries. The markets for NTFPs have become more international at the second half of the study period (1999−2016), modifying the price-quantity relationships of ceps, milk caps and cloudberries. Additionally, the number of visas issued to Thai pickers increased the marketed quantities of bilberries and cowberries.

Climate warming increases nitrogen (N) mineralization in superficial soil layers (the dominant rooting zone) of subarctic peatlands. Thawing and subsequent mineralization of permafrost increases plant-available N around the thaw-front. Because plant production in these peatlands is N-limited, such changes may substantially affect net primary production and species composition. We aimed to identify the potential impact of increased N-availability due to permafrost thawing on subarctic peatland plant production and species performance, relative to the impact of increased N-availability in superficial organic layers. Therefore, we investigated whether plant roots are present at the thaw-front (45 cm depth) and whether N-uptake (15N-tracer) at the thaw-front occurs during maximum thaw-depth, coinciding with the end of the growing season. Moreover, we performed a unique 3-year belowground fertilization experiment with fully factorial combinations of deep- (thaw-front) and shallow-fertilization (10 cm depth) and controls. We found that certain species are present with roots at the thaw-front ( Rubus chamaemorus) and have the capacity (R. chamaemorus, Eriophorum vaginatum) for N-uptake from the thaw-front between autumn and spring when aboveground tissue is largely senescent. In response to 3-year shallow-belowground fertilization (S) both shallow- ( Empetrum hermaphroditum) and deep-rooting species increased aboveground biomass and N-content, but only deep-rooting species responded positively to enhanced nutrient supply at the thaw-front (D). Moreover, the effects of shallow-fertilization and thaw-front fertilization on aboveground biomass production of the deep-rooting species were similar in magnitude (S: 71%; D: 111% increase compared to control) and additive (S + D: 181% increase). Our results show that plant-available N released from thawing permafrost can form a thus far overlooked additional N-source for deep-rooting subarctic plant species and increase their biomass production beyond the already established impact of warming-driven enhanced shallow N-mineralization. This may result in shifts in plant community composition and may partially counteract the increased carbon losses from thawing permafrost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the territory of Poland, Rubus chamaemorus is a rare glacial relict. Its localities known to date were in the northern part of the country and in the Sudeten Mountains. In 2002, a new locality of this species was discovered in the Orawa-Nowy Targ basin in the Carpathians. It is the southernmost locality in the European distribution area of this species. Rubus chamaemorus grows there on a raised bog in communities of the Oxycocco-Sphagnetea class. The spatial structure of the population depends on microhabitats reflecting the hummock-hollow structure of the peatbog.

Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus L.) cultivation is receiving increasing attention as a means of revitalising regional economy and rehabilitating cutover peatlands. The study reported here investigated the necessary soil physical and hydrological conditions, the compatibility of cloudberry cultivation with restoration of mined peatlands, and the performance of newly commercialised Norwegian cultivars in North America. Terraces at two levels were landscaped in peatland after vacuum extraction of peat to create different growing conditions in terms of hydrology and soil properties, then planted with two Norwegian cultivars (Fjordgull and Fjellgull) and two local (east Canadian) clones of cloudberry in a randomised block experiment. After three years, both the clones and the cultivars grown on the lower terrace had more leaves per m2 due to lower soil bulk density combined with higher average water level. Mulching, inherent to restoration, reduced the number of leaves produced during the year following planting. The Fjordgull cultivar had a higher survival rate than Fjellgull and local clones. Overall, the number of living rhizomes decreased over the years following planting. These results suggest that soil properties (bulk density and porosity) significantly influence cloudberry establishment and growth. Rhizomes should be planted two or three years after peatland restoration to avoid the initial negative effects of the mulch.

Respiration, content of soluble carbohydrates and phenolics, level of lipid peroxidation, and activity of peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase were investigated in the leaves of cloudberry ( Rubus chamaemorus L.) in different stages of shoot development. Age dependence of respiration was wave like with peaks associated with the periods of vegetative growth and fruit bearing. Prior to the onset of fruit bearing, respiration was clearly suppressed, while the content of soluble carbohydrates rose. In the course of development, contribution of cytochrome pathway to total respiration changed more drastically than participation of energy-wise ineffective alternative pathway. Activation of residual (nonmitochondrial) respiration observed in the postgenerative period directly correlated with a rise in activity of polyphenoloxidase and peroxidase in the leaves. The results show that ontogenetic changes in leaf respiration are complex and depend on genetically predetermined processes of plant growth and development. Behavior of respiration and its components predictably reflects changes in the direction and intensity of overall metabolism of plants associated with strict order of alternation of regular age states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The availability and quality of wild berry material is strongly affected by seasonal variations, human resources, and both chemical and biological pollutants. Here we describe for the first time the industrial scale biotechnological production of cloudberry ( Rubus chamaemorus) cells of consistent quality and defined chemical composition. Callus was initiated from sterile cuts of the wild cloudberry leaves. Bright yellow, soft callus of uniform quality was selected by regular subculturing, and a stable line successfully used for suspension culture was obtained within 18 months. The cultivation process of the cell culture was initiated in 250 mL shake flasks and stepwise expanded to a stirred tank bioreactor of 300 L working volume. Each growth period in flasks and fed-batch cultures in bioreactors was 10 ± 3 days. Viability of the cultures was approximately 90% throughout the cultivation processes. The 300 L culture was harvested by pressure filtration and the biomass was freeze-dried. The 300 L yields of fresh cells and freeze-dried material were 19 and 2 kg, respectively. The unusual phenolic profile of cloudberry cells including flavanols, as well as their fatty acid composition with a high proportion of α-linolenic acid and high protein content, make them a unique and interesting alternative for industrial applications for various industrial fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mineral fertilization of cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus) has been inconclusive so far. Nutrient absorption of cloudberry was studied by solution depletion 1) to characterize its nutrient uptake kinetics and 2) to determine its preferred nitrogen (N) form. Two accessions, ‘Fjordgull’ (a female cultivar from Norway) and a local wild clonal selection from ‘Baie-Comeau’ (Canada) were tested. Ammonium (NH4) and phosphorus (P) absorption presented a two-component kinetic while nitrate (NO3), potassium (K), and glycine absorption was better fitted with the Michaelis-Menten equation alone. Cloudberry preferences for nitrogen form were in the order: NH4-N, glycine, NO3-N. ‘Fjordgull’ exhibited much higher Kmand Jmaxfor P uptake than the ‘Baie-Comeau’ accession, but they exhibited similar NH4-N uptake kinetics. However, Kmvalues for all nutrients tested except NH4-N were higher than reported for other species. Cloudberry does not appear to have evolved efficient absorption kinetics to compensate for the overall very low abundance of nutrients of peatlands. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus) is a dioecious perennial shrub growing on peat land. The berries are a combined fruit with a color ranging from yellow to orange and bright red. Berries are highly valued in the Nordic countries and berries with orange to red color are preferred. Cultivation and breeding has started, and four Norwegian varieties are on the market. These clones were selected on the basis of good shoot production (both sexes), good pollinators (males), and big berries (females). Recently, berry quality has been introduced in breeding programs as a trait for selection. In this study we present the variation in levels of individual anthocyanins and hydroxycinnamic derivates between different clones of cloudberry. Both levels of anthocyanins and hydroxycinnamic derivates varied considerably between the different clones. The most abundant anthocyanin was cyanidin 3-glucoside, followed by cyanidin 3-rutinoside. One single clone (AN1372) from Andøya in Northern Norway had the highest levels of all the analyzed anthocyanins. Among the two analyzed hydroxycinnamic acids, p-coumaric acid presented the highest ratio in all analyzed berries. Differences between different years were relatively high, but not consistent. Levels of caffeic acid did not vary much between clones. The results indicate a genetic basis for the variation between clones, but since numbers of samples were few and sampling only were done during two growth seasons, further analysis will be needed to examine the variation and genetic basis of anthocyanin composition of cloudberry. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Natural peatlands are an important source of berries in northern countries. One possible avenue to improve crop yield in natural peatlands is to apply fertilizers, ombrotrophic peatlands being very low in nutrients. In order to reduce the impact of this practice on an otherwise natural habitat, slow-release organic fertilizers might be more appropriate than mineral fertilizers. However, mineralization and dispersion of organic fertilizers in peatlands need to be determined along with their impact on crop yield. In the present study, we focused on cloudberry fruit that despite a high commercial potential is limited by low and variable yield. We thus tested the effect of an organo-mineral fertilizer in two peatlands on nutrient dispersion, plant growth, flowering frequency and fruit yield of cloudberry. The organo-mineral fertilizer, composed of crab and fish meal supplemented with potassium chloride, was applied annually for three years. The treatment was repeated in two natural ombrotrophic peatlands: one covered with lichen and the other a more typical sphagnum bog. The dispersion study indicated very limited dispersion of most nutrients. There was no effect of the fertilizer on cloudberry growth and fruit yield or on the nutrient concentrations of its tissues. We concluded that the fertilizer did not mineralize to sufficient extent. Mineralization of potential organic fertilizers would need to be tested in natural peatlands before being applied to cloudberry patches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus) is a dioecious plant growing in northern peatlands which produces a uniquely flavoured berry highly valued in Scandinavia and other northern regions. Pollination in the wild is accomplished mainly by flies. In most seasons pollination is insufficient leading to poor fruit set and fruit size. Honeybees have been used by cloudberry producers both in Norway and in Finland to increase cloudberry pollination. In a comparative study between four bogs supplied with two honeybee hives and four control bogs without honeybees in north-eastern Québec, Canada, honeybees were shown to collect significant quantities of cloudberry pollen, and pollen loads, fruit set, seed set and cloudberry yields were all significantly increased in bogs with hives compared with those in the control bogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus L.) cultivation is receiving increasing attention as a means of revitalising regional economy and rehabilitating cutover peatlands. The study reported here investigated the necessary soil physical and hydrological conditions, the compatibility of cloudberry cultivation with restoration of mined peatlands, and the performance of newly commercialised Norwegian cultivars in North America. Terraces at two levels were landscaped in peatland after vacuum extraction of peat to create different growing conditions in terms of hydrology and soil properties, then planted with two Norwegian cultivars (Fjordgull and Fjellgull) and two local (east Canadian) clones of cloudberry in a randomised block experiment. After three years, both the clones and the cultivars grown on the lower terrace had more leaves per m² due to lower soil bulk density combined with higher average water level. Mulching, inherent to restoration, reduced the number of leaves produced during the year following planting. The Fjordgull cultivar had a higher survival rate than Fjellgull and local clones. Overall, the number of living rhizomes decreased over the years following planting. These results suggest that soil properties (bulk density and porosity) significantly influence cloudberry establishment and growth. Rhizomes should be planted two or three years after peatland restoration to avoid the initial negative effects of the mulch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Rubus chamaemorus (cloudberry) is a herbaceous clonal peatland plant that produces an extensive underground rhizome system with distant ramets. Most of these ramets are non-floral. The main objectives of this study were to determine: (a) if plant growth was source limited in cloudberry; (b) if the non-floral ramets translocated carbon (C) to the fruit; and (c) if there was competition between fruit, leaves and rhizomes for C during fruit development. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aim During the last ice age large parts of the north boreal and subarctic zones were covered by ice, while the climate in ice-free regions of northern Asia was extremely cold and dry. The extensive peatlands of these zones with their characteristic vegetation developed at the beginning of the Holocene. We combine a phylogeographical approach with maps of pollen records to identify regions where Rubus chamaemorus, a plant of moist, peaty soils, was likely to grow during this period. Location Circumarctic/circumboreal. Methods Samples were collected from 45 locations throughout much of the range of R. chamaemorus and 398 plants were analysed with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Estimates of diversity and differentiation, principal coordinates analysis and Bayesian clustering methods were used for the analysis of genetic data. Dated pollen records were retrieved from the European and the Global Pollen Databases. Results The plants from Sakhalin are highly divergent from the rest of the material and represent the previously described var. pseudochamaemorus. The main genetic division in R. chamaemorus sensu str icto is found in the Taymyr region in central Eurasia. Genetic diversity and the relative number of rare markers are highest in central Siberia and eastern Asia and decrease towards Europe and to a lesser extent eastwards through North America. Pollen dating back to the last ice age is found in central and eastern Siberia and Alaska. The maximum observed clone size is about 250 m, and more than one clone is found in nearly every local population. Main conclusions The genetic data are consistent with the pollen records and indicate that R. chamaemorus was growing in several areas of northern central Siberia and Beringia during the last glaciation. This finding suggests that sufficient humidity for this and other species of peaty soils was present locally in different parts of the generally dry ice-free areas of northern Asia, as had been previously documented for Beringia. The AFLP data show that var. pseudochamaemorus, which is also morphologically quite divergent, clearly represents a distinct genetic entity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubus chamaemorus L. is a dioecious clonal herb with highly variable fruit production. Our overall objective was to determine how fruit production (and the reproductive stages leading to fruit) for R. chamaemorus varied with habitat and population (especially sex ratio) characteristics at scales from 1 m2 quadrats to whole populations in southeastern Labrador, Canada. During the climatically favourable year studied, reproductive variables were only weakly correlated with habitat characteristics. Strongly biased sex ratios were found at scales of 1–10 m. Male-dominated quadrats exhibited a significantly higher proportion of flowering ramets than did female-dominated quadrats. Female-biased sex ratios of flowering ramets and large distances between male and female flowers were correlated with decreased seed set. We found no differences in microhabitats of males and females. Although the biased local sex ratios could limit sexual reproduction, the high fruit set we measured clearly indicates that populations are able to produce abundant fruit during favourable years in this unpredictable environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate scenarios for high-latitude areas predict not only increased summer temperatures, but also larger variation in snowfall and winter temperatures. By using open-top chambers, we experimentally manipulated both summer temperatures and winter and spring snow accumulations and temperatures independently in a blanket bog in subarctic Sweden, yielding six climate scenarios. We studied the effects of these scenarios on flowering phenology and flower production of Andromeda polifolia (woody evergreen) and Rubus chamaemorus (perennial herb) during 2 years. The second year of our study (2002) was characterized by unusually high spring and early summer temperatures. Our winter manipulations led to consistent increases in winter snow cover. As a result, average and minimum air and soil temperatures in the high snow cover treatments were higher than in the winter ambient treatments, whereas temperature fluctuations were smaller. Spring warming resulted in higher average, minimum, and maximum soil temperatures. Summer warming led to higher air and soil temperatures in mid-summer (June–July), but not in late summer (August–September). The unusually high temperatures in 2002 advanced the median flowering date by 2 weeks for both species in all treatments. Superimposed on this effect, we found that for both Andromeda and Rubus, all our climate treatments (except summer warming for Rubus) advanced flowering by 1–4 days. The total flower production of both species showed a more or less similar response: flower production in the warm year 2002 exceeded that in 2001 by far. However, in both species flower production was only stimulated by the spring-warming treatments. Our results show that the reproductive ecology of both species is very responsive to climate change but this response is very dependent on specific climate events, especially those that occur in winter and spring. This suggests that high-latitude climate change experiments should focus more on winter and spring events than has been the case so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fin land abounds with wild ber ries. The an nual har vest of wild ber ries in Fin land has been es ti mated at more than 50 mil lion ki lo - grams (110 mil lion lb)-more than ten ki lo grams (22 lb) per Finn. Ap - prox i mately 50 dif fer ent spe cies can be found in Fin land in all kinds of en vi ron ments from rocky sea shores to swamps and for ests. Of all the dif - fer ent spe cies of wild ber ries in Fin land, roughly 20 are ed ible. The best known and most valuable are lingonberry, bilberry, cloudberry, and buckthorn berry. The most commonly traded of the wildberries is thelingonberry. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Nation-wide figures related to berry-picking in Finland were based on postal questionnaire surveys carried out in 1997 and 1998. The sample in 1997 consisted of 6849 households and the response rate was 60%. The questionnaire was concerned with the utilization of all non-wood forest products. In 1998, a subsample of 1858 households was taken and the new questionnaire focused solely on berries and mushrooms. The response rate was 69%. In 1997, Finnish households picked 56.5 million kg of wild berries (95% confidence limits were 52.3 and 60.4 million kg). In 1998, a total of 49.7 million kg (44.0, 55.3) was picked. In 1997 the proportion of products sold was 27%, harvested by 5% of households. It is possible that the quantity of wild berries picked in 1997 was higher than in any year previously, but because of a lack of reliable earlier data this cannot be verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clonal structure of Rubus chamaemorus populations was investigated using DNA fingerprinting. The PCR-based methods included the use of 10-base RAPD primers and 16-base simple sequence repeat primers. In the hybridization method variation was studied using hypervariable multilocus probes, one derived from the M13 bacteriophage and the other a synthetic (AC)/(TG) polynucleotide. Although R. chamaemorus expresses clear variation in morphology, the level of genetic differentiation appears to be fairly low. The observed numbers of clones in the three populations examined in Finland varied from 2 to 4. The total number of genotypes across populations was 5, of which one was unique. The results obtained using the two fingerprinting methods were comparable but lead to a slightly different grouping of clones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flowering and fruiting patterns of the dioecious perennial herb Rubus chamaemorus L. were studied in frost-prone (open) and frost-sheltered (Shaded) habitats in northern Sweden over 6 years. The number of ramets with flower buds, the proportion of flower buds that opened, and fruit set varied markedly between years. In the frost-prone populations, the occurrence or absence of detrimental frosts during the development of flowers and fruit could explain much of the variation, both in the proportion of flower buds that developed into flowers, and in fruit set. In the frost-sheltered populations, most female flowers that did not develop into fruit aborted without any signs of physical damage and before any ovules had begun to enlarge. Flower mortality caused by herbivores feeding on reproductive parts was commonly low, but reached values higher than 10% in one of the shaded populations. Hand-pollination increased the proportion of ovules producing seeds in the mature fruits by about 20%, and in one year also increased fruit set significantly in one population. Fruit-producing female ramets had a higher mortality and a lower probability of flowering in the subsequent year than male ramets and non-fruiting female ramets. In R. chamaemorus, the conditions for fruit maturation are highly unpredictable at the time of flower initiation. It is suggested that the apparent 'over-initiation' of flower buds is advantageous, as it allows the plant to attain a high reproductive success in years favourable for flowering and fruit development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shoot development and damage by herbivores and pathogens to male, female and non-floral ramets of the dioecious, perennial herb Rubus chamaemorus were studied in the field during three consecutive years. Leaves on male ramets were usually consumed more by herbivores and attacked more by fungi than were leaves on female ramets. Male ramets unfolded their leaves later than did female ramets. In 1983, when the level of herbivory was comparatively high, ramets that were fully developed in early June were more damaged by herbivores than were ramets that unfolded their leaves later. Non-floral ramets usually showed intermediate levels of damage compared to male and female flowering ramets. Defoliation caused a greater increase in ramet mortality among females than among males in a field experiment. It is suggested that the different reproductive roles of males and females differently constrain the evolution of defense against herbivores and pathogens in dioecious plants. This may result in intersexual differences both in palatability to herbivores and susceptibility to pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]