NOTE: This dataset is no longer publicly available. This database houses over 500,000 sequences that were generated and assembled into approximately 15,000 contigs, annotated and functionally mapped to Gene Ontology (GO) terms. Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) is a major berry crop in the United States. Next generation sequencing methodologies, such as 454, have been demonstrated to be successful and efficient in producing a snap-shot of transcriptional activities during an organism’s developmental stage(s) or its response to biotic or abiotic stresses. Such application of this new sequencing technique allows for high-throughput, genome-wide experimental verification of known and novel transcripts. We have applied a high-throughput pyrosequencing technology (454 EST sequencing) for transcriptome profiling of blueberry during different stages of fruit development to gain an understanding of the genes that are up or down regulated during this process. We have also sequenced flower buds at four different stages of cold acclimation to gain a better understanding of the genes and biochemical pathways that are up- or down-regulated during cold acclimation, since extreme low temperatures are known to reduce crop yield and cause major losses to US farmers. We have also sequenced a leaf sample to compare its transcriptome profile with that of bud and fruit samples. Over 500,000 sequences were generated and assembled into approximately 15,000 contigs and were annotated and functionally mapped to Gene Ontology (GO) terms. A database was developed to house these sequences and their annotations. A web based interface was also developed to allow collaborators to search\browse the data and aid in the analysis and interpretation of the data. The availability of these sequences will allow for future advances, such as the development of a blueberry microarray to study gene expression, and will aid in the blueberry genome sequencing effort that is underway. This work was supported by grant 2008-51180-04861 from the USDA - Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) Specialty Crop Research Initiative program.

NOTE: This dataset is no longer publicly available. BBGD (http://bioinformatics.towson.edu/BBGD/) was developed as a database for blueberry genomics. BBGD is both a sequence and gene expression database. It stores both EST and microarray data and allows scientists to correlate expression profiles with gene function. BBGD is a public online database. "Presently, the main focus of the database is the identification of genes in blueberry that are significantly induced or suppressed after low temperature exposure. " To gain a better understanding of changes in gene expression associated with cold acclimation in blueberry, the Rowland laboratory (USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD) has undertaken a genomics approach based on the analysis of Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs). Initially, two standard cDNA libraries were constructed using RNA from cold-acclimated and non-acclimated floral buds of the blueberry cultivar ‘Bluecrop’ (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) and about 1200 5’-end ESTs were generated from each of the libraries. About 100 3’-end ESTs were generated from the cold-acclimated library as well. The Blueberry EST database contains EST sequences from a number blueberry libraries including cold acclimated and non-acclimated libraries. It also includes forward and reverse subtractive libraries. You can query the sequence database by clone ID, accession number or gene (clone) name below. Or you can get a list (in tabular) format of all the clones in a particular library by clicking on the library name on the left side navigation bar. Attribution for photo: D2601-1 - Blueberry plant: Copyright free, public domain photo by Mark Ehlenfeldt

This dataset is supplemental to the article "BBGD: an online database for blueberry genomic data," (2007); it is titled "list of genes printed on microarray slides." The article, "BBGD: an online database for blueberry genomic data," (2007) involving blueberry cold hardiness experiments has a list of all the genes that were printed on microarray slides. This dataset, supplemental to the article, is called: "list of genes printed on microarray slides." 1471-2229-7-5-s1.xls 663k. By using the BBGD database, researchers developed EST-based markers for mapping, and have identified a number of "candidate" cold tolerance genes that are highly expressed in blueberry flower buds after exposure to low temperatures. BBGD (http://bioinformatics.towson.edu/BBGD/) is a public online database, and was developed for blueberry genomics. BBGD is both a sequence and gene expression database: it stores both EST and microarray data, and allows scientists to correlate expression profiles with gene function. Presently, the main focus of the database is the identification of genes in blueberry that are significantly induced or suppressed after low temperature exposure. Data was collected sometime between 2000 and 2007 - exact dates are unknown.

Pollen data from the manuscript titled: Identity and diversity of pollens collected by two managed bee species while in blueberry fields for pollination, published in Environmental Entomology. Pollen was collected from honey bee (Apis mellifera) and bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) forager returning to the colony, while in commercial highbush blueberry fields in SW Michigan for crop pollination. Pollen was identified visually using morphological features. Funding also provided by Project GREEEN award GR18-038. Project GREEEN, Michigan’s plant agriculture initiative housed at Michigan State University, is a cooperative effort by plant-based commodity groups and businesses in cooperation with Michigan State University AgBioResearch, Michigan State University Extension and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to advance Michigan’s economy through plant-based agriculture.

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The primary function of the Fruit and Vegetable Market News Division of the Fruit and Vegetable Program is to compile and disseminate information that will aid producers, consumers, and distributors in the sale and purchase of poultry and their related products nationally and internationally.