Saskatoon berry researchers are calling on the wild fruit-picking community to serve the interests of their plant.
“Send us the fruit,” said Annette Zatylny of the Native Fruit Development Program at the University of Saskatchewan. “We need a good genetic bank.”
Zatylny said researchers need to build up the variety of native Saskatoon strains they can use in breeding commercial varieties. They’re hoping wild berry pickers will be willing to collect and send sample fruit from promising bushes.
If any of the varieties are good enough to be bred for commercial growers, the original picker will get to pick the new variety’s name, she said.
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Pickers should look for saskatoons that are wild (not cultivated), vigorous, disease-free and are large and tasty.
The researchers want pickers to document where they found the berries, and mark the trees so they can return to the bush if more of the variety is needed.
Local extension agrologists and the development program are supplying information forms.
Zatylny said pickers can send berries through the mail in ice cream buckets or double-bagged envelopes.
Mail to Native Fruit Development Program, Department of Horticulture Science, University of Saskatchewan, 51 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Sask. S7N 5A8. Berry pickers can also call 306-966-8612 or fax 306-966-8106.
