Physicochemical Fruit Characteristics of Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas L.) Genotypes from Serbia

Abstract

High variability in the natural population of the cornelian cherry in the region of Serbia is an important genetic potential for use in breeding programs. In the course of a 2-year study, significant differences have been noted in morphometric characteristics (fruit weight and flesh to stone ratio were 2.11 to 6.71 g and 78.52% to 88.74%, respectively) and chemical composition of the mesocarp [content of total dry matter (TSC), soluble solid content (SSC), total acids, total and reducing sugars, sucrose, Ca-pectates, vitamin C, proteins, cellulose, anthocyanins, and tannins was recorded 18.26% to 33.39%, 17.40% to 32.37%, 1.62% to 3.75%, 11.77% to 26.30%, 9.50% to 24.07%, 0.38% to 3.25%, 0.32% to 2.44%, 14.56 to 39.22 mg/100 g fruit, 0.20% to 2.71%, 0.43% to 0.95%, 35.63 to 126.53 mg/100 g fruit, and 0.56% to 1.47%, respectively] of 18 cornelian cherry genotypes from Vojvodina Province. The data were compared and analyzed by multivariate techniques [correlation matrix calculation and principal component analysis (PCA)]. The highest positive correlation was found between TSC–SSC and total sugar–reducing sugar (r > 0.95). Using PCA, different genotypes of cornelian cherry can be grouped in clusters based on similarity in their chemical composition.