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Ribes

Photograph of Ben Klibreck blackcurrants
Work on Ribes is focused on the development of enhanced germplasm using contemporary genetics techniques including marker assisted breeding.

Ribes is a diverse genus of ca. 150 spp. of shrubs, distributed mainly in the northern temperate regions of Europe and North America. The genus includes the blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.), gooseberry (R. grossularia L.) and redcurrant (R. sativum and R. rubrum). Production of blackcurrant in the UK is largely for juice production, although there is a growing interest in the fresh crop due to the perceived health benefits of the fruit. The James Hutton Institute has active commercial breeding programmes for blackcurrant, through James Hutton Ltd, and has produced the highly successful 'Ben' series of cultivars.

Work on Ribes at the Institute is focused on the development of enhanced germplasm using contemporary genetics techniques including marker-assisted breeding. Traits of interest include fruit quality, pest resistance and environmental adaptability.

Research

Areas of Interest


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The James Hutton Research Institute is the result of the merger in April 2011 of MLURI and SCRI. This merger formed a new powerhouse for research into food, land use, and climate change.