Elderberry Breeding
American elderberry producers need better cultivars to move the industry forward.
Desirable Horticultural Attributes of Elderberry Breeding
- Reliable high fruit set and yields on an annual basis
- Large, high-quality juicy berries
- Uniform ripening
- Early harvest
- Berries that hold on the bush until harvest
- Vigorous plants with strong stems
- Winter hardiness
- Cultivars that respond positively to pruning plants to the ground annually
- Excellent fruit chemistry with desirable, genetically stable nutritional profiles
Genetic Improvement
All of these attributes can likely be improved via a dedicated breeding program. Our objectives are to develop foundational resources and knowledge for elderberry genetic improvement and screen and release promising new cultivars.