Bilberry in vitro protocols and analyses of phenolic compounds

Bilberry or European blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) belongs to the most significant family of wild berries in Northern Europe and is recognized for its bioactive properties. Its fruits and leaves are rich with phenolic compounds, in particular flavonoids. Their health benefits have received notable attention in recent years. Bilberry is one of the richest sources of the anthocyanins, a subclass of flavonoids. The interest in bilberry cultivation is growing because of the high value of the fruit in global food markets. Tissue culture provides an efficient propagation method for the selected bilberry genotypes both for the breeding and cultivation purposes. This chapter describes the protocol of bilberry in vitro propagation and for the analyses of phenolic compounds.