Quality parameters change during ripening in leaves and fruits of wild growing and cultivated elderberry (Sambucus nigra) genotypes

Abstract

This is the first report on the difference in the contents of the major quality compounds during development among cultivated (‘Haschberg’ cultivar and ‘Ljubostinja’ selection) and wild edible elderberry plants. Phenolics content in leaves (four stages) and fruits (unripe and ripe), as well as organic acids and sugars content in unripe and ripe fruits were determined. Quinic acid was the major organic acid in unripe fruits (especially in ‘Wild’ plants 16.7 g 100 g-1), while ripe fruits accumulated citric acid in the highest amounts (the highest was in’ Ljubostinja’ 10.2 g 100 g-1). ‘Wild’ elderberry plants had significantly higher sugar content in fruits, in general (2.2 unripe and in ripe 8.4 g 100 g-1), except for fructose content which was the highest in’ Ljubostinja’ ripe fruits (up to 6-fold higher). Tested elderberry plants had four major groups of phenolics in their leaves and fruits during development: phenolic acids (caffeic and caffeoylquinic acid derivatives), flavanone, flavonols (quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin derivatives) and anthocyanins (mostly cyanidin derivatives).’ Ljubostinja’ had higher content of cyanidin derivatives in leaves in flowering stage and in all tested fruits (0.01% DW in unripe and 0.7% DW in ripe). Bearing in mind all tested quality parameters, ‘Ljubostinja’ selection had better quality of fruits, which position this selection as valuable resource for further cultivation and breeding of elderberry.