Influence of in vitro and ex vitro propagation on anthocyanin content and anti-oxidant activity of lingonberries.

The fruit yields, anthocyanin contents and anti-oxidant activities of lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) cultivars ‘Splendor’ and ‘Erntedank’ were studied after being propagated either by conventional softwood cuttings (SC) or by in vitro adventitious shoot regeneration from excised leaves of micropropagated shoots (TC). A significant interaction between propagation method and cultivar was observed for berry anti-oxidant activity. After 4 years of growth, the TC plants produced berries with more anti-oxidant activity, although berry diameter, number and yield per plant were higher in SC plants. The three dominant lingonberry anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-galactoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-arabinoside) were not affected by propagation method. ‘Erntedank’ out-yielded ‘Splendor’ for berry production, and produced more, but smaller berries with a higher anti-oxidant activity than those of ‘Splendor’.