Diversity on Fruits of Wild Grown European Cranberrybush from Coruh Valley in Turkey

Abstract

Wild berries-blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, strawberry, rose hip, elderberry, cranberries etc. are common across most of region of Turkey and there is lack of information about horticultural characteristics of wild grown those berries in the country. Present study aimed to determine some morphological (fruit weight, number of fruits per raceme, number of racemes per bush), and biochemical (vitamin C, soluble solid content, total phenol, total anthocyanin, and antioxidant capacity) in fruits of ten European cranberrybush (Viburnum opulus L.) genotypes naturally grown in Coruh valley in Turkey. The results showed statistically significant differences among genotypes for most of the searched parameters. Fruit weight, number of fruits per raceme and number of racemes per bush were ranged from 0.64 to 0.85 g; 35.2 to 52.6 and 326 to 483, respectively. The genotypes had SSC (Soluble solid content) and vitamin C between 10.96 and 12.65% and 29 and 41 mg per 100 g fresh fruit basis. Total phenol and total anthocyanin content ranged from 668 to 856 mg gallic acid equivalent per 100 g fresh weight, 27–53 mg per 100 g fresh fruit expressed cyanidin-3-rutinoside. Antioxidant activity were found between 28.76 and 36.41 µmol trolox equivalents per g fresh fruit based on FRAP (Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma) assay.