The effect of donor species used in breeding on juice quality of black currants (Ribes nigrumL.)

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Abstract
Species closely related to Ribes nigrum, R. dikuscha and R. bracteosum, and the less closely related species, R. grossularia, have been used as donors of agronomic characters in the black currant breeding programme at East Mailing. The effects of these species on the flavour, colour and ascorbic acid content of juices made from their seedling derivatives were investigated. Early backcross derivatives on average were inferior to the standard processing cv Baldwin, especially with regard to flavour, but which further backcrossing the proportion of individually acceptable seedlings has in general increased. Progress towards black currant quality has been slower in R. grossularia, lines than in R. dikuscha or R. bracteosum derivatives. By BC3 or BC4, selections with juice of commercial quality were obtained in lines derived from each donor species.