Serbia is a rich in Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) populations that grow naturally in a variety of locations. At Faculty of Agriculture in Novi Sad, an intensive breeding program on this fruit species started in 2006. The paper reviews morphometric characteristics of 16 Cornelian cherry genotypes collected on the territory of the Vojvodina Province and Mačva region in 2008 and 2009, which were found to be superior in terms of fruit size and quality. On average for the two years, the genotype PPC1 had the highest fruit length (27.79 mm), fruit width (18.97 mm), fruit weight (6.61 g), mesocarp weight (5.86 g) and the flesh to stone ratio (88.46%). The genotype Žuti had the longest fruit. The effect of year of growing was statistically significant for all studied traits, except for fruit width and fruit shape index. Fruit weight, economically the most important characteristic, ranged in the interval from 2.25 to 6.61 g, with a large number of genotypes having the fruit weight over 3 g. All of the tested genotypes had satisfactory flesh to stone ratio, from 79.00% (CPC9) to 88.46% (PPC1). The highest variability was detected for mesocarp weight (36.48%) and fruit weight (33.19%) in 2009, while flesh to stone ratio was the most stable characteristic in both test years (CV = 3.84 and 4.09% in 2008 and 2009, respectively). The genotype SKC had highest contents of soluble matter (32.37%), total sugars (25.38%) and reducing sugars (23.67%). Fruits of the genotype KC2 had highest contents of vitamin C (39.22 mg/100 g fruit) and total acids (3.60%). Selection Apatinski rani had the highest content of anthocyanins (109.36 mg/100 g fruit). Depending on the genotype, protein content ranged from 1.43 to 2.71%, and tannin content from 0.65% to 1.31%.

chemical content; Cornus mas L.; genotype; morphometric properties; selection

Published by University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb, CROATIA
Sponsored by Ministry Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia