Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) ‘Ōhelo (USDA, CSREES) 2008 – 2011 Francis Zee; Kim Hummer; Barbara Reed; Lisa Keith and Nahla Bessil Stuart T. Nakamoto; Randall Hamasaki and Andrew Kawabata.

‘ Ōhelo Berry: A Specialty Ornamental and Value Added Crop of Hawaii   Reduce wild gather for commercial purpose.   Reduce traffic & spread of invasive weeds to the mountains.   Provide a sustainable supply of berry for culinary and value added products Two hand- full of berries to start

Ohelo berry: a specialty ornamental and value added crop of Hawaii SCRI Goals : Streamline the clonal propagation and production protocols of ornamental ohelo cultivars on a commercial scale in Hawaii and Oregon. Establish molecular fingerprinting and cryopreservation methodology for the three clonal ohelo, and conduct fruit nutrient analyses including total phenolics, total anthocyanins, vitamin C, titratable acidity, brix and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) in Oregon. Determine host-pathogen interactions, etiology and management of fungal diseases on Vaccinium in Hawaii.

SCRI Goals (continue) Compare and identify environmental, horticultural and management factors on quality and production of ohelo as an ornamental from flask to nursery to market at three locations in Hawaii. Prepare economic feasibility analyses of ohelo as ornamental potted plant and specialty niche berry. Provide extension and outreach to farmers and stakeholders in Hawaii. Develop seed based production protocols for sustainable ohelo fruit production in Hawaii, and initiate value added products and culinary research of ohelo berry with industrial partners.

Demonstrated success in Hawaii Sustainable berry production from seed to seed Established propagation and cultural protocol Potted Ornamental TCTC Commercial In Vitro production Field planting Cuttings

‘Ōhelo cultivar ‘Kīlauea’ from tissue culture plugs (NAP. Oregon) Genetic Diversity Sustainable production in field and nursery Potted Ornamental ‘ōhelo

USDA/ARS display Demonstrated commercial values of potted ‘ōhelo as an ornamental at the BIAN Charity Plant sale (July 2010)

Summary  ‘ Ōhelo is successfully produced as potted ornamental and berry producing plants.  Requirement: Elevation >2,500 feet (762 m) to 4,500 feet (1371 meter), Temperature: F ( C).  Diseases of ‘Ōhelo are Rust, Powdery Mildew and Calonectria leaf spots  Lower temperatures resulted in brighter red color in young growth and reduced powdery mildew incidence.

Special thanks to the Specialty Crop Research Initiative Grant of the USDA/ARS Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Services (CSREES). We thank Amy Strauss, Claire Arakawa, Tristan Foote, Carol, Riley, Russell Kai, Jason Okamoto and Micah Hiramoto, USDA/ARS, PBARC for excellent technical assistance. We thank Dr. Marisa Wall (HI) and Robert Durst (OSU, Linus Pauling Institute, OR) for fruit qualities and nutrition analysis. We thank the industrial partners: Big Island Candies; North American Plants; Akatsuka Orchid Garden; Hawaii Tropical Fruit Grower Association; Big Island Association of Nurseryman and American Culinary Federation chapter Kona-, HI.