COMPARING FRUIT QUANTITATIVE AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF WILD BLACKBERRY (RUBUS SANCTUS SCHREB) GENOTYPES FROM NORTH AND SOUTH OF IRAN

Abstract

Rubus sanctus is a blackberry species which is widely distributed in Iran from the wet climate in the north (Caspian Sea) to the cold climate in the west and even to some semi-arid climates in the southwest of the country. The present work aimed to compare the fruit quantitative attributes and nutritional value of 16 genotypes of this species growing in 16 sites located in two different climatic conditions, in the north and south of Iran. Pomological traits of the fruits were characterized by the fruit length, diameter, weight and number of drupelets measured. The chemical traits of the juice were also measured, precisely the amount of total anthocyanins, total soluble solids (TSS), total phenols, and titratable acid (TA). Results showed variability between fruits collected in the two parts of the country. Large sized fruits were found in the southern region. Fruit length and number of drupelets did not present significant differences between the two regions. The highest amount of anthocyanins and TA were also related to samples of the southern region but the highest amount of TSS and total phenols were related to samples of the northern area. Cluster analysis revealed two main clusters where the 16 accessions collected from the two regions were grouped independently of their origin.