Effects of shoot age on biological and chemical properties of red currant (Ribes rubrum L.) cultivars

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of shoot age on biological and chemical properties of 11 red currant cultivars (‘Jonkheer van Tets’, ‘Junifer’, ‘London Market’, ‘Makosta’, ‘Mirana’, ‘Redpoll’, ‘Rolan’, ‘Rondom’, ‘Rovada’, ‘Slovakia’ and ‘Stanza’) with different origins and ripening times. Phenological observations and pomological characteristics were studied and chemical analysis was conducted from 2013 to 2018 at experimental fields near Belgrade, Serbia. The total contents of phenols and anthocyanin were estimated spectrophotometrically, while quantitative analysis of anthocyanin aglycones was done using high-performance liquid chromatography. Three-year-old shoots had an earlier start of all examined phenological stages, better generative potential, higher yields, as well as higher total phenol and vitamin C contents in the fruits, compared with 2-year-old shoots, for all cultivars. The contents of total anthocyanins were higher in berries on younger shoots of early-ripening cultivars, while late-ripening cultivars had higher contents of total soluble solids and cyanidin in the berries on 3-year-old shoots. Principal component analysis demonstrated that the most important variables that distinguished 2-year-old shoots from 3-year-old shoots were those related to phenological data, cluster traits, total acids and yields. According to the obtained results, ‘Junifer’ (with the highest number of clusters), ‘Mirana’ (with the highest sugar content and sugar/acid ratio), ‘Redpoll’ (with the highest physical traits of cluster and berry), ‘Slovakia’ (with the highest yield and yield efficiency) and ‘Rovada’ (with the highest level of secondary metabolites) are recommended as the most promising cultivars for growing in the temperate region of Serbia.

Does Shoot Age Influence Biological and Chemical Properties in Black Currant (Ribes nigrum L.) Cultivars?

“…The cultivars which had the higher number of clusters per plant had the largest difference in harvesting times when shoot ages were compared. This is probably due to the genotype, especially the vigour of the bush [ 15 ]. Despite a later start to the vegetative period, all cultivars had an earlier ripening time in the second year, probably as a result of higher temperatures during the development stages of the berries [ 29 ].…”

“…Large yield in currants is correlated with the vigour and the age of the shoots, flower bud formation in the previous season, and berry size [ 13 , 14 ]. Moreover, older shoots of bushes have better generative potential, higher yields, as well as higher total phenol and vitamin C contents in the fruits, compared with younger shoots [ 15 ].…”

“…From a review of the literature, and to the best of our knowledge, other than comparable research in red currants [ 15 ], no similar study in black currant cultivars has been performed to date. The goal of this study was to determinate if the cultivar and shoots age influence the biological and chemical properties of black currants grown in Serbia.…”

Creation and Use of Highly Adaptive Productive and Technological Red Currant Genotypes to Improve the Assortment and Introduction into Different Ecological and Geographical Zones

“…The demand for most berry crops is currently increasing in world markets. Among berry crops, red currant is very popular, which has become widespread due to the significant demand for berries by virtue of their high therapeutic effect, technological efficiency, and other economically valuable characteristics [ 1 , 2 ]. Most of the known red currant cultivars (‘White Crape’, ‘Versailles Blanche’, ‘Blanka’, ‘Viksne’ and others) show low tolerance to various kinds of stressors when they are introduced into new environments and may not meet the requirements of the modern market.…”

“…In the creation of adaptive, long-leaved cultivars, ‘Rote Spatlese’, a descendant of Ríbes multiflórum , is used. European cultivars such as ‘Primus’, ‘Rozetta’, ‘Rovada’ and ‘Detvan’ were created on the basis of this cultivar [ 1 , 19 , 20 , 21 ].…”