Nutritional Value of Introduced Cherry Varieties in Conditions of Foothill Fruit Zone of Dagestan

Abstract

Introduction. Given the increasing requirements of consumers for the quality of fruits, and food enterprises for processed raw materials, the search for varieties of garden crops with a rich supply of food substances in fruits remains an urgent problem. Cherries ( Prunus avium L .) are one of the most popular fruit plants in many countries of the world. Purpose of the article is to assess the nutritional value of the fruits of 12 introduced varieties of cherries grown in the agroecological conditions of the foothill fruit zone of Dagestan is given in order to identify among them varieties that differ in their greatest ability to accumulate soluble dry substances, sugars, tar acids and vitamin C. Materials and methods . The composition and content of these food substances in cherries were studied by conventional analysis methods. The identified differences in the biochemical composition of the studied fruits, depending mainly on the variety, made it possible to assess their nutritional value and functional orientation. The varieties Valery Chkalov, Hebros, Lambert Compact and Merton Bigarro were distinguished by a high concentration of soluble dry substances (14.5-15.2%). Results and conclusion. The best saccharinity (11.82-12.81%) was determined in varieties - Merton Bigarro, Sofiiska Hrushalka, Lambert Compact and Hebros. Hudson, Kosmicheskaya and Hebros varieties distinguished themselves with a good ability to synthesize titrated acids (0.85-0.90%). In the varieties Lambert Compact, Sofiiska Hrushalka, Hudson and Hebros, significant mass concentrations of vitamin C (8.38-8.84 mg%) were determined. The fruits of all studied varieties of cherries can be considered food of functional orientation, since their consumption in the amount of 250 g satisfies the daily human need for vitamin C by 16.5 (Kosmicheskaya variety) - 22.1% (Hebros variety). Among the cherry varieties studied, among the most promising, distinguished by the best ability to accumulate natural nutrients, are Hudson, Lambert Compact, Sofiiska Hrushalka and Hebros. They can be recommended for further successful use in production and selection work in order to optimize the industrial variety of cherries and solve the problem of import substitution of providing the country's population with high-quality fruits.