QualiRedFruits: A European effort to develop new agricultural practices for quality production for red fruits enriched in healthy compounds

The QualiRedFruits project is co-funded by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme. It brings together 7 SMEs and 5 universities and research centers, and deals with the competitiveness of raspberry production and market. The aims of the project are to create a new market of raspberry with higher quality and to improve the already existing one. The strategy is to develop innovative cultural practices respectful of the environment – natural plant defense elicitor treatment and biotisation with beneficial microorganisms including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) – and identifying raspberry varieties with higher AOM content. Molecular markers are being developed for the identification of beneficial microorganisms and for the assessment of plant sanitary status. A cryo-preservation protocol is being developed for germplasm long-term conservation of varieties with higher quality. These approaches are being tested from in vitro culture to the field. Finally, recommendations for quality production of raspberry to SMEs will be drawn.