Breeding Strategies for Increasing the Anthocyanin Content of Cranberries

The effect of cultivar on cranberry ( Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) fruit size and composition was investigated. ‘Ben Lear’, ‘Crowley’, ‘Early Black’, and ‘Franklin’ berries contained about twice the anthocyanin of the other clones. Based on projections of analytical data, potential gain could be enhanced by increasing the proportion of berries that attain high anthocyanin content, seen in individual fruits within samples, as compared to the alternative strategies of breeding for improved anthocyanin content, for small berries, or for synchronous ripening.