In the present study, fruit weight, fruit firmness, external fruit color, soluble solid content, pH, titratable acidity, vitamin C, total phenolics, total anthocyanins and antioxidant capacity of eight wild bilberry grown in Coruh valley in northeastern Turkey were determined. The blueberry cv. 'Bluecrop' was also studied to make comparison with bilberry genotypes. Antioxidant activity of bilberry and blueberry fruits were comparatively assessed by FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power) assay. Significantly higher contents of phenolics and anthocyanins were found in bilberry fruits comparted with blueberry fruits. However, blueberry cv. 'Bluecrop' exhibited higher fruit weight and vitamin C content than bilberry fruits. Total phenolic and total anthocyanin content was 327 mg gallic acid equivalent and 142 mg of cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalent in 100 g fresh fruit in cv. 'Bluecrop', while it was between 492-563 mg gallic acid equaivalent and 307-342 mg of cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalent in 100 g fresh fruits of bilberry accessions. Moreover, wild accessions had approximately 2-3 folds higher antioxidant capacity than cv. 'Bluecrop'. The obtained results suggest the possibility of improving the bioactive and antioxidant properties of bilberry cultivars by using wild ones in cross breedings. It was also concluded that genotypes significantly affect the bioactive content of fruits and consequently the possibility of using wild bilberry fruits as a potential source of natural antioxidants in food industry is worth to be considered.

The Rosa is one of the most diverse genera in the plant kingdom and, in particular, its fruits have been used for multiple purposes in different parts of the world for centuries. Within the genus, Rosa canina and Rosa dumalis are, economically, the most important species and dominate Rosa fruit production. In this study, some important fruit and shrub traits of ten Rosa canina and ten Rosa dumalis ecotypes collected from rural areas of Kars province, located in the east Anatolia region of Turkey were investigated. We found significant differences among ecotypes in most of the morphological and biochemical traits. The ecotypes were found between 1446–2210 m altitude. Fruit weight and fruit flesh ratio ranged from 2.95 g to 4.72 g and 62.55% to 74.42%, respectively. SSC (Soluble Solid Content), Vitamin C, total phenolic, total flavonoid, total carotenoid, and total anthocyanin content of the ecotypes ranged from 16.9–22.7%, 430–690 mg per 100 g FW (fresh weight), 390–532 mg gallic acid equivalent per 100 g FW, 0.88–2.04 mg per g FW, 6.83–15.17 mg per g FW and 3.62–7.81 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalent per kg, respectively. Antioxidant activity was determined to be between 19.7–34.7 mg ascorbic acid equivalent per g fresh weight. Rosa ecotypes contained chlorogenic acid and rutin the most as phenolic compound. Our results indicated great diversity within both R. canina and R. dumalis fruits.

No abstract

Turkey has great ecological, topological and geographical diversity within the country and this diversity has contributed not only to a high genetic diversity, but has also allowed the successful introduction and cultivation of a great number of fruit tree taxa. Turkey is also known to have a great richness of wild edible fruits with regard to variety and biological diversity. Rowanberry or mountain ash (Sorbus aucuparia L.) is one of the wild edible fruits naturally found most parts of Turkey. Present study describes morphological (tree growth habit, fruit color) and biochemical fruit traits (vitamin C, organic acids, specific sugars, total phenolic content, total anthocyanin content, total antioxidant capacity) of 17 seed propagated rowanberry genotypes. We found significant differences among almost all studied parameters. The genotypes had diverse L, chroma and hue values, which found between 28.76-42.38%; 24.11-29.45% and 33.13-42.66%, respectively. Among sugars and organic acids, Glucose and Malic acid were dominant in rowanberry fruits, respectively. Total phenolic content, total anthocyanin content, vitamin C and antioxidant activity varied from 123-189 mg GAE per 100 g, 18-57 mg per 100 g, 25.6-40.2 mg per 100 g and 3.36-6.92 mM trolox equivalent per 100 g of fresh weight (FW) basis. Results suggest using rowanberry fruits in production of functional foods with high biologically active properties.

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) is one of the most important members of Prunus and its trees bears delicious and nutritious fruits during summer months in the temperate zones in the world. Apricot cultivars are propagated asexually which consists of clones. Information on inter-clonal variations in apricot cultivars can assist us in the selection of better clones from commercial cultivars. We aimed to determine morphological traits (fruit weight, seed weight, kernel weight, flesh/seed ratio, shape index, fruit firmness, color index), nutritional (sugars and organic acids) and nutraceutical (total phenolic, total flavonoids, total carotenoid and antioxidant activity) composition of 18 clones of Sekerpare apricot cultivar grown together in Kagizman district in eastern Turkey. Results showed significant differences among clones concerning most of the morphological traits, nutritional and nutraceutical compositions. Fruit weight, flesh/seed ratio and fruit firmness of clones were in range of 23.14–27.11 g, 11.21–13.14 and 3.88–5.11 kg/cm2, respectively. Fruit shape index was slightly similar among all clones which was between 0.95 and 1.03. Citric acid and sucrose were found to be the predominant organic acid and sugar among clones which varied from 728 to 915 mg/100 g and 7.11 to 9.94 g/100 g, respectively. The clone ‘KS2’ exhibited the highest level of total phenol (67.1 mg gallic acid equivalent per 100 g) and antioxidant activity (2.16 μmol trolox equivalent per g). The study confirmed the diversity among Sekerpare clones and effectiveness of combining morphological, nutritional and nutraceutical analyses in assessment of Şekerpare clones and its use for future pre-breeding programs.