Proceeding Book ICAFE, 25 September 2015, Korçë Albania ISBN: 978-9928-146-41-0
51
VARIACIONI MORFOLOGJIK I BORONICËS (VACCINIUM MYRTILLUS L.) NË
RRETHIN E PUKËS
MORPHOLOGICAL DIVERSITY OF BILBERRY PLANT (VACCINIUM
MYRTILLUS L.) IN PUKA REGION MSc. AGIM PEPKOLAJ, Prof. As. Dr. NDOC FASLIA, Prof. As. Dr. BELUL GIXHARI
Plant Production Department
Agricultural University of Tirana
Address: Tirana/ALBANIA
E-mail:[email protected]
Abstract
Vaccinium myrtillus L. is one of the most important medical plant found as wild plant in
Albania forest and pastures known also as secondary forest product. Until now, there is
unknown any cultivation practice in the country due to the luck of information and researches
related to its distribution, genetic diversity, chemical properties and economical potential.
This study aimed to evaluate the morphological variation of bilberry plant collected in
different locations of Puka region. The collections were carried out at three different area of
bilberry natural populations at Livadh Hamzi mountain, Iballa region and Krrabi (above
Sapac) mountain. The collection areas represent different altitudes and site exposures. There
were assessed thirteen quantitative/qualitative (plant height, branch number, steam diameter,
number of leafs per steam, leaf length, leaf width, leaf border, plant habitat, leaf form, border
leafs, fruit length and width, number of seeds per fruit, and fruit colour) traits.
Analysis of variance showed presence of significant differences at the P0.05 of the
probability between bilberry populations related to quantitative traits. The study is essential
for an understanding of morphological diversity among bilberry population in Puka district
which a good base for further studies for improvement of plant cultivation of the plant in the
future.
Key words: Morphological diversity, plant population, morphological traits, cluster analysis,
bilberry
Introduction
Bilberry is a perennial subshrub plant, which belongs to the plant kingdom, Ericaceae family,
genius Vaccinium and Vaccinium myrtillus L. specie. (USDA Classification). Bilberry plant
is mainly distributed in the countries like Rumania, Poland, Albania, Bulgaria, France,
Germany, Austria and Sweden (Roy Upton 2001, Web Flora Europea).
Anthocyanin is pigment, which gives to the berry fruit the red color (A. Baj 1983) which is
one of the components used for quality control of the bilberry (Anja K et al., 2013). The
anthocyanin depends from the place and collection time (Deividas Burdulis et al., 2007). The
anthocyanin concentration is increased with increasing latitude (Andreas Akerstrom and
Akersrom et al, 2010). Comparing to other berry cultivars, bilberry (wild fruits) contains the
largest amount of anthocyanin (Roy Upton 2001), and higher antioxidant activity compare to
other cultivated blueberry cultivars (Ozlem et al., 2015, Burdulis et al., 2009).
Vaccinium myrtillus, has been used for different purposes such as medicinal and nutritional.
From different studies were found that the bilberry have a positive effects on cardiovascular
system and risk prevention against vascular diseases (Arpita Basum 2010). The leaf
decoction of bilberry has been proven to have also positive effect on diabetes type 2
(Fernanda M. Ferreira et al 2010). Plant leafs has been used for medicinal purposes (Roy
Upton 2001).
Proceeding Book ICAFE, 25 September 2015, Korçë Albania ISBN: 978-9928-146-41-0
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In Albania the collected bilberry fruits are used for fresh consumption because there is no
manufacturing companies processing the bilberry fruits in the country. Wild bilberry fruits
are collected by farmers and then sold to the collectors who after drying or a simple
processing, export them to the neighboring countries such as Kosovo, Serbia, Croatia and
Italy etc. Harvesting of bilberry fruits in the region is not industrialized and the traditional
methods are used for harvesting by using the special comp, due to the fact that the land were
bilberry is naturally grown has no owner and is difficult to control the collection because the
various of persons go there for collection during the ripening period which cause the negative
trend on the abundance of the specie in the region.
There are not so many studies done so far for the exploration of Vaccinium sp in the regions
of Puka because of difficult terrain to explore where this plant is naturally grown.
Materials and Methods We collected plant material during July-August 2014 manually and we prepared the
herbarium of the collected samples in different sites Puka region. The collected plant
materials were naturally dried in darkness at the ambient temperature. In Puka region we
identified three natural population as described in the Tab no 1. were the plant abundance was
from 1-3 point scale (Westhoff V et al 2014): (1 - 10-20 %, 2- 25-40 %, 3- 45-60 %, 4- 65-
80 %, 5- 85-100 %). From each population were randomly collected two samples of bilberry
plant material (30 plants per sample) (Fig 1).
Figure 1: Bilberry collecting site in Puka region
Source: DivaGis and Google earth photo
Table 1: Collecting site
Population Id Sample Elevation
P1M1 Krrab (Mbi Sapac) 1039
P1M2 Krrab (Mbi Sapac) 1240
P2M1 Livadh Hamzi (Terbun) 1156
P2M2 Livadh Hamzi (Terbun) 1416
P3M1 Shale e Madhe/Iballe 1430
P3M2 Shale e Madhe/Iballe 1143
Proceeding Book ICAFE, 25 September 2015, Korçë Albania ISBN: 978-9928-146-41-0
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Morphologic variation is expressed in two levels such as quantitative and qualitative (Salillari
A et al 2007). In order to understand the phenotypic level of diversity we have assessed
therteen quantitative/quantitative traits such plant height, branch number, steam diameter,
number of leafs per steam, leaf length, leaf width, plant habitat, leaf form and border leafs,
fruit length and width, number of seeds per fruit and fruit color.
The results evaluations were done using SPSS software (Tukey HSD).
Results and Discussions
The aim of our study was to evaluate the morphological diversity of bilberry plant collected
in Puka region, using the special descriptors designed for that purpose. In the table no 2 are
presented the analyses of variance for all bilberry traits analyzed for the three bilberry
populations.
Table 2: Analysis of variance
Quantitative traits Sum of
Squares df
Mean
Square F Sig.
Plant height (cm)
Between
Groups 2223.325 2 1111.663 34.607 .000
Within
Groups 5685.713 177 32.123
Total 7909.038 179
Branch number
Between
Groups 36.362 2 18.181 3.229 .042
Within
Groups 996.565 177 5.630
Total 1032.927 179
Steam diameter
(cm)
Between
Groups .108 2 .054 7.608 .001
Within
Groups 1.262 177 .007
Total 1.370 179
Number of leafs per
steam
Between
Groups .633 2 .317 .102 .903
Within
Groups 547.117 177 3.091
Total 547.750 179
Leaf length (cm)
Between
Groups 1.072 2 .536 10.341 .000
Within
Groups 9.177 177 .052
Total 10.250 179
Leaf width (cm)
Between
Groups .616 2 .308 13.917 .000
Within
Groups 3.920 177 .022
Total 4.537 179
Fruit length (cm)
Between
Groups .268 2 .134 26.105 .000
Within
Groups .907 177 .005
Total 1.175 179
Fruit width and
(cm)
Between
Groups .134 2 .067 6.821 .001
Proceeding Book ICAFE, 25 September 2015, Korçë Albania ISBN: 978-9928-146-41-0
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Within
Groups 1.735 177 .010
Total 1.869 179
Number of seeds
per fruit
Between
Groups 1299.511 2 649.756 11.478 .000
Within
Groups 10020.150 177 56.611
Total 11319.661 179
Analysis of variance shows significant differences among populations for the traits analyzed.
In order to understand if all populations changes from each other we have used Tukey HSD
test to analyze if the changes are also for the traits analyzed.
In this regard we can see differences among populations one (Krrab) with population two
(Livadh hamzi) for plant high trait (mean diff=-3.225, sig=.006<0.05) and also for other
traits.
We did the correlation coefficient were its statistically proven that plant high have positive
connection with branch number of the plant (r=0.181, sig =.015<0.05), number of leafs per
steam (r=.497**
, sig =.000<0.05), leaf length, leaf width and number of seeds per fruit.
As for qualitative traits resulted that the plant habits (Tab 3) are upright, spreading and semi
spreading. The leaf form (tab 4) for the assessed populations resulted to be ovate, elliptic
form. Border leaf resulted with serrate margins and 100 % of fruits remain with deep blue
color.
Table 3: Plant habits
Frequency Percent Valid Percent
Upright 31 17.2 17.2
Semi spreading 134 74.4 74.4
Spreading 15 8.3 8.3
Total 180 100.0 100.0
Table 4: Leaf form
This study contributed to better understanding of morphological characteristics of bilberry
plants and the findings will serve to understand not only the distribution of the plant in the
region but also to clarify the morphological features of the plant. The study is essential for an
understanding of morphological diversity among bilberry population in Puka district which a
good base for further studies for improvement of plant cultivation of the plant in the future
Frequen
cy
Percent Valid
Percent
Ovate 30 16.7 16.7
Elliptic 96 53.3 53.3
Oval 54 30.0 30.0
Total 180 100.0 100.0
Proceeding Book ICAFE, 25 September 2015, Korçë Albania ISBN: 978-9928-146-41-0
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where from the present study was shown that the differences exist not only at population
level but also at the sample level.
The distribution in the natural population of Vaccinium sp is reduced because of uncontrolled
fire. This may have caused the loss of the diversity of Vaccinium sp population in Puka
region (Terbun mountain)
Conclusions
The main result of our study is that morphological diversity was present not only on the
population level but also on the sample level. The diversity was statistically proven.
The morphologic diversity of bilberry plant may be effected the changes in temperature, day
length, exposure to the sun and soil properties. These factors affect the morphology of the
plant and chemical composition of the fruits (Andreas Akerstrom 2010). The data of our
study shows the differences in plant height regarding the elevation of the collected samples
and the exposure in sunny openings. The plants collected in the shadows of the trees seems to
be slightly higher compare to the plants collected in the places exposure to the sun.
As we have seen from carried out field mission it has happened a loss of the habitat because
of the uncontrolled harvesting and fire, which may cause to this species the risk of extinction.
Genetic erosion, fire, and human disturbance are factors that have caused the loss of genetic
diversity in the studied region. It was obvious that the covered area the diversity is going to
be reduced in the future because of a controlled fire. Collecting and saving the best accession
in origin to have natural plants that farmer may use for propagation may make this plant very
important in economic terms and genetic diversity in general.
References
1. A. Baj, E. Bombardelli, B. Gabetta and E.M. Martinelli (1983). Qualitative and
quantitative evaluation of Vaccinium myrtillus anthocyanins by high-resolution gas
chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. Journal of
Chromatography, 279 pp. 365-372.
2. Anja K. Primetta, Laura Jaakola, Faik A. Ayaz, Huseyin Inceer, Kaisu R. Riihinen
(2013). Anthocyanin fingerprinting for authenticity studies of bilberry (Vaccinium
myrtillus L.) Food Control Volume 30, Issue 2, pg 662–667
3. Adem Salillari, Milto Hyso, Ndoc Faslia, Imer Rusinovci (2007). Genetic recourses
Book pg 50-51. Agricultural University of Tirana.
4. Andreas Akerstrom (2010). Factors affecting the anthocyanidin concentration in
fruits of Vaccinium myrtillus L. Doctoral Thesis. Swedish University of Agricultural
Sciences.
5. Andreas Akerstrom, Laura Jaakola, Ulla Bang and Anders Jaderlund (2010). Effects
of latitude-related factors and geographical origin on anthocyanidin concentrations in
fruits of Vaccinium myrtillus L.(Bilberries). Agriculture Food Chemistry, Vol 58 (22), pp
11939–11945.
6. Arpita Basum Michael Rhone and Timothy J Lyons (2010). Berries: emerging impact
on cardiovascular health. 68(3), pp 168–177.
7. Deividas Burdulis, Antanas Sarkinas, Ina Jasutien, Elicija Stackeviciene, Laurynas
Nikolajevas, Valdimaras Janulis. (2009). Comparative study of anthocyanin composition,
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No. 4 pp. 399-408
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Almantas Razukas (2007). Study of diversity of anthocyanin composition in bilberry
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Proceeding Book ICAFE, 25 September 2015, Korçë Albania ISBN: 978-9928-146-41-0
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9. Fernanda M. Ferreira, Francisco P. Peixoto, Elsa Nunes, Cristina Sena, Raquel Seiça
andMaria Sancha Santos (2010). Vaccinium myrtillus improves liver mitochondrial
oxidative phosphorylation of diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats. Journal of Medicinal Plants
Research Vol. 4(8), pp. 692-696.
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11. http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome
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future prospects. J. Agric. Food Chem., 56, 630–635.
13. Ozlem Saral, Zafer Olmez, Huseyin Sahin (2015). Comparison of antioxidant
properties of wild blueberries (Vaccinium arctostaphylos L. and Vaccinium myrtillus L.)
with cultivated blueberry varieties (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in Artvin region of
Turkey. Turkish Journal of Agriculture - Food Science and Technology, 3(1), PP 40-44
14. Roy Upton. (2001) Bilberry fruit Vaccinium myrtillus l. American Herbal
Pharmacopoeia.
15. Westhoff V, Eddy Van Der Maarel (2014): The Braun-Blanquet approach.
Pyblished by Bucurest University.
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