Yield and Chemical Composition of Blue Honeysuckle Fruit Depending on Ripening Time

Abstract

The purpose of three-year observation was to compare yield, fruit quality and chemical composition of berries of two blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) cultivars of Polish bred 'Wojtek' and 'Br ązowa' collected at the beginning and at the end of harvest season. On average, 'Wojtek' cv. yielded 940 g per bush, whereas, 'Br ązowa' 895 g per bush. Nevertheless the time of harvest, 'Wojtek' berries surpassed 'Br ązowa' fruit regarding soluble solids, titratable ac idity and L- ascorbic acid content (for late-crop berries of bot h cultivars 13.2 > 11.5%, 2.91 > 2.82 g citric acid 100 g 1 , and 61 > 48 mg 100 g- 1 fruit juice, respectively). Further, 'Wojtek' berr ies showed higher total polyphenol content (174.95 and 223.05 mg 100 g 1 , for early and late ripening fruit, respectively) compared to that of 'Br ązowa' (144.84 and 239.48 mg 100 g 1 ). Among phenolics, anthocyanins made the substantial group ranging from 106.29 mg 100 g -1 ('Br ązowa' berries of early harvest) to 185.15 mg 100 g -1 (late Wojtek' fruit)'. For both cultivars cyanidin -3-glucoside was found a predominant anthocyanin. The decreasing order of other anthocya nins for 'Br ązowa' was cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside > peonidin-3-glucoside > cyanidin-3-rutinoside, where as, for 'Wojtek' cyanidin-3-rutinoside > cyanidin- 3,5-diglucoside > peonidin-3-glucoside. Regarding hydroxycinnamic acids, both genotypes showed the same decreasing order: chlorogenic acid > 3,5-d icaffeoylquinic acid > neochlorogenic acid. Quercetin-3-rutinoside and quercetin-3-glucoside we re main flavonols identified in both cultivars. For both genotypes, the berries of late harvest were bi gger and richer in soluble solids and total polyphenol, however, they showed decreased firmness, lower acidity, and L-ascorbic acid content.