Volume 59 Number 3 Article 19
Year 2005 Month 7
Title: Autumnberry (Eleagnus umbellata): A Potential Cash Crop
Authors: B.L. Black, I.M. Fordham and P. Perkins-Veazie
Abstract:
Feral populations of autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb) exist throughout the eastern United States.
The
plants are tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions and thrive on poor soils.
In 2001, researchers published evidence that the red berries of autumn olive have a high carotenoid content, and particularly high levels of
lycopene (30-70 mg/100 g). Lycopene has powerful antioxidant properties, making it of interest for nutraceutical
use, and also provides natural red color for food use.
Managed plantings consisting of three cultivars and four wild
selections were established in Maryland to evaluate genotypes and management practices for potential commercial fruit production.
Annual productivity of autumn olive ranged from 0.5 to 15 kg/plant.
Mechanical harvesting
was accomplished using a commercial blueberry harvester on plants that had been pruned for mechanical harvest.
Berries were high in soluble solids and acidity, similar to blueberries and blackberries, but somewhat astringent.
Approximately 10% of the total berry weight is in the seed.
Lycopene content differed among genotypes ranging
from 33.6 mg/100 g to 55.3 mg/100 g for 'Delightful' and USMD3, respectively.
The productivity under low-input
management, and the possibility for machine harvest indicate that autumn olive may be a commercially viable
crop, especially on low-fertility and sandy soils that may be unsuitable for other agricultural uses.
Differences
in yield and fruit lycopene content indicate an opportunity for selecting genotypes superior for fruit production.
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