Pomological Characteristics of Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas L.) Selections in Serbia and the Possibility of Growing in Intensive Organic Orchards

Abstract

The Cornelian cherry, which can be used as both food and medicine, is highly tolerant to diseases and pests, so it is a rare plant species that can be grown without chemicals and it is capable of fruit bearing under modest agrotechnical conditions. In Serbia, over 500 Cornelian cherry genotypes have been monitored and observed in all morphological and chemical characteristics and registered a very large variation in flowering time and maturity, morphometric properties of fruits and nutrient content. Based on the last three years results, this paper shows pomological characterization for five the best selections that can be recommended for reproduction by specially developed technology to the Faculty of Agriculture in Novi Sad, and their benefits of growing in organic orchards. Phenological observations showed that the earliest start of flowering was noted for Apatinski rani and R1 (mid-January) while later flowering was in Bačka and PPC1 (end of January). At the latest flowering registered in CPC16 (in early February). Although Cornelian cherry flowers early, before leafing, fruits ripen very late. In the average for all study years, the earliest start of ripening fruit was found in PPC1, following Apatinski rani and CPC16 (mid-July) while latest start ripe fruit Bačka (in early August). On the basis of morphometric measurements clearly stands out PPC1 from the fruits of maximum mass (6.60 g) and flesh ratio (88.75%), followed by R1 (4.55 g; 87.84%). All other genotypes have a weight over 3 g and flesh ratio over than 80%. The average the total soluble solids, total acidity, total sugar, vitamin C and anthocyanins were 20.22%; 2.59%; 16.28%; 19.13 mg/100 g; 87.00 mg/g, respectively, for all examined genotypes.