Evaluation and Breeding of Haskap in North America

Abstract

Blue honeysuckle ( Lonicera caeruleaL.) plants from several geographic sources were evaluated. These included botanical varieties edulis, kamtchatica, altaica, and boczkarnikovaefrom Russia, edulisand boczkarnikovaefrom northeast China, and emphyllocalyxfrom Hokkaido, Japan. It became clear that the Japanese variety emphyllocalyxhas superior adaptability in Oregon. Therefore, a breeding program utilizing this variety was initiated in 2003 in Oregon with collaboration in Idaho. Breeding objectives, breeding methods, variability of important horticultural traits, and the scope of the program are presented. Advanced replicated trials of outstanding selections are underway in expectation of identifying superior individuals to release as cultivars that will form the basis for a new berry industry in the Northwestern United States.