Abstract
'Lovran Marron' is the only known traditional Croatian variety of the sweet chestnut. The objective of this study is to specify qualitative and quantitative morphological characteristics and to analyze the chemical composition of the 'Lovran Marron' fruits as well as to compare them to Marušnjak fruits (trees from the 'Lovran Marron' seed) and fruits from the local natural sweet chestnut population. Seven morphological characteristics were measured: fruit mass, height, width and thickness, scar length and width, and the length of the longest intrusion of the seed coat into the kernel. Eight qualitative characteristics were estimated: embryony, degree of penetration of the seed coat into the kernel, fruit shape, glossiness and colour, kernel colour, hairiness towards the top of the fruit and the existence of longitudinal stripes. 'Lovran Marron' has desirable qualitative and quantitative fruit characteristics. The Marušnjak trees mostly have intermediate morphological traits of fruits in comparison with 'Lovran Marron' and trees from the natural population. 'Lovran Marron' had the smallest mass fractions on average of: K, Mg, Ca, Na, Mn, Cu and Fe. The highest mass fractions on average of these macro- and microelements were characteristic of the trees from the natural population. The highest average content of carbohydrates was recorded in the 'Lovran Marron' and the lowest in the fruits from the natural population. The Marušnjak fruits had intermediate water, protein, ash, carbohydrates, and macro- and microelement content. The content of Cd and Pb was lower in all samples than the maximum allowed amounts in the sweet chestnut fruits.
Highlights
The sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill., Fagaceae family) is a noble hardwood growing in the forests of the hilly and mountainous area of the continental and subMediterranean part of Croatia
The highest mass fractions on average of these macro- and microelements were characteristic of the trees from the natural population
The highest average content of carbohydrates was recorded in the ‘Lovran Marron’ and the lowest in the fruits from the natural population
Summary
The sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill., Fagaceae family) is a noble hardwood growing in the forests of the hilly and mountainous area of the continental and subMediterranean part of Croatia. It is a species providing multiple benefits to man (wood, fruit, honey, tannin, preservation of ecological and landscape values). Marrons are, according to Italian standards, only those cultivars (varieties) of the European sweet chestnut with the best quality, large fruits of oblong shape, that have a small scar, light brown colour, and slightly protruding, longitudinal dark stripes, are tasty, easy to peel and rarely have double seeds. The growing of traditional varieties is on the decrease, and they are gradually being replaced by new, hybrid varieties [12]
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