Abstract

The chemical composition, morphometric and qualitative nut characteristics were studied in four traditional sweet chestnut and hybrid varieties produced on private estates in the Lovran surroundings, on the eastern slopes of Mount Učka, under the specific conditions of the sub-Mediterranean climate. Seven morphological characteristics were measured, and 12 nut and kernel qualitative characteristics were estimated using standardized descriptors. In addition, the samples were analyzed for proximate constituents (moisture, crude fat, crude protein, ash and total carbohydrates) and macro- and micro-nutrients (K, Mg, Ca, Na, Mn, Fe, Zn and Cu). Significant differences between traditional sweet chestnut and hybrid varieties were found in almost all of the studied morphometric and chemical nut characteristics. In general, chestnuts of hybrid varieties were characterized by larger fruits with higher moisture, crude protein, potassium, magnesium, sodium, iron and copper contents than in traditional sweet chestnut varieties. On the other hand, nuts of traditional sweet chestnut varieties were richer in total carbohydrates and crude fat. In addition, the presence of raised stripes, a small hilar scar and transversally ellipsoid nut shape were found to be typical for the traditional sweet chestnut varieties. Overall, our results suggest that the traditional varieties of the sweet chestnut can be easily differentiated from the new modern hybrid varieties by both morphological and chemical characteristics of the nut, and because of these differences, these two groups of chestnut varieties can have different practical uses.

Highlights

  • Chestnut (Castanea Mill.) is a monoecious and deciduous genus from the family Fagaceae native to the temperate forest zone of the northern hemisphere [1]

  • The traditional sweet chestnut and hybrid varieties included in this research can be distinguished morphologically and by their chemical composition

  • The analysis of Euro-Japanese hybrids showed that they have some disadvantages they are characterized by early production and very large nuts

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Summary

Introduction

Chestnut (Castanea Mill.) is a monoecious and deciduous genus from the family Fagaceae native to the temperate forest zone of the northern hemisphere [1]. It includes eight economically and ecologically important tree and shrub species of which the Japanese (C. crenata Siebold & Zucc.), Chinese (C. mollissima Blume.) and European chestnut (C. sativa Mill.) have been cultivated for centuries for their economic importance as nut producing trees [2]. Chestnut fruits are highly desirable and widely consumed throughout the world, and generally have several beneficial nutritional characteristics [4,5,6]. Chestnut fruits are a good source of important macro- (K, P, Mg, Ca, Na) and micro-nutrients (Mn, Fe, Zn and Cu) and some vitamins [4,8,9,15]

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