Morphological and antioxidant characteristics of quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) and chinese quince fruit (Pseudocydonia sinensis Schneid.)

Quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) is a fruit species, whose fruits have a high therapeutic value and therefore are used in many countries in traditional medicine. Chinese quince (Pseudocydonia sinensis Schneid.) is a lesser used species, although it is a relative of quince. The aim of the study was to evaluate some morphological characters of both kinds of fruit and antioxidant activity of morphological parts of the fruit. For these experiments, two genotypes were used from each species growing in the Arboretum Mlyňany (Slovakia). We determined the antioxidant activity of different parts by the DPPH method. In the genotypes from the evaluated species C. oblonga/P. sinensis we determined the average weight of the fruit in the fresh condition to be in the range 147.61 - 253.27 g / 197.85 - 466.38 g, the exocarp weight 28.50 - 43.89 g / 24.85 - 45.10 g, the mesocarp weight 116.36 - 204.99 g / 160.30 - 389.80 g, the seed weight 1.05 - 1.54 g / 9.22 - 17.42 g, the height of fruit 74.09 - 80.88 mm / 98.06 - 124.48 mm, average of fruit 60.11 - 81.51 mm / 62.33 - 88.64 mm. In aqueous extracts we determined antioxidant activity of the species C. oblonga / P. sinensis in dry exocarp in the range 43.52 - 67.73% / 52.76 - 82.20%, in fresh mesocarp 7.36 -14.78% / 15.30 - 23.50%, in dry mesocarp 30.92 - 41.30% / 41.68 - 50.15% and dry endocarp 55.19 - 76.44% / 91.20 - 92.72%. We determined antioxidant activity in methanolic extracts of the species C. oblonga / P. sinensis in dry exocarp in the range 93.29 - 93.32% / 91.87 - 93.25%, in fresh mesocarp 10.29 - 36.0% / 17.10 - 17.11%, in dry mesocarp 54.55 - 74.11% / 80.39 - 84.11% and in dry endocarp 95.14 - 95.39% / 94.97 - 95.62%. Results document that the fruits of both species can be practically used in the preparation of many dishes, while they can be used as raw material for pharmaceutical and cosmetic use

Constituents of the essential oil in Solidago canadensis L. from Eurasia

Hydro distilled essential oils in air-dry samples of aerial parts of Solidago canadensis L., (Asteraceae) from eight local invasive populations were investigated by GC-MS analysis. A comparative study on quantity and composition of the essential oils obtained from plants, growing in different ecological and climatic conditions, ontogenesis phase and different plant organs was carried out The major compounds detected in oil samples of S. canadensis were α-pinene (1.3 - 61.27%), limonene (0.5 - 22.5%), bornyl acetat (3.4 - 29.8%) and germacrene D (1.8 - 39.2%). Samples from inflorescences contained the maximal percentage of monoterpene hydrocarbons, while the leaves' samples showed the maximal cumulative percentage of sesquiterpene and monoterpene hydrocarbons. Data obtained from our studies confirm the availability of alien invasive species Solidago canadensis for medicine and many other purposes. The variability of the qualitative and quantitative composition of essential oils in different geographical locations will allow futher selection of form containing the maximum amount of active substances

Morphological characteristics for fruits of aronia mitschurinii A.K. Skvortsov & Maitul.

The aim of this study was to determine morphometric characteristics of fruits within some phenotypes of Aronia mitschurinii A.K. Skvortsov & Maitul. Their morphometric parameters were following: weight from 0.75 g (AM-03) to 1.52 g (AM-04), length from 9.46 mm (AM-03) to 12.73 mm (AM-04), diameter from 10.49 mm (AM-03) to 13.73 mm (AM-04), fruits number in the corymb from 11.33 (AM-07) to 20.13 (AM-03), cumulative weight of fruits in the corymb from 10.42 g (AM-07) to 21.73 g (AM-04), volume of fruits from 0.55 (AM-03) to 1.26 (AM-04) cm3. The shape index of the fruits was found in the range of 0.87 (AR-01, AR-05, AR-07) to 0.93 (AM-02). The analysis of coefficient of variation showed the difference of variability in morphological characteristics between Aronia mitschurinii samples. Data showed that the most variability of important selection characteristics are the average cumulative mass of fruits in a сorymb - from 12.34 (AM-03) to 38.61 (AM-02) % and fruit number of fruits in the сorymb - from 14.56 (AM-03) to 36.88 (AM-02) %. The other characteristics are more or less stable. The introduction population of the Aronia mitschurinii, was created in the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden in Kyiv, has a sufficient potential for successful selection work

Morphological characteristics and determination of volatile organic compounds of Diospyros virginiana L. genotypes fruits

The aim of this study was to determine morphometric differences of fruits and seeds between 19 selected American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana L.) genotypes. The genotypes of American persimmon have been growing more than 15 years in Forest-Steppe of Ukraine in the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of NAS of Ukraine. They are well adapted to the climatic and soil conditions. The fruits were collected at the period of their full maturity (October). The population differs in a weight, shape, size and color of fruits and seeds. Their morphometric parameters were following: fruit weight from 2.30 to 81.30 g, fruit length from 8.84 to 49.73 mm, fruit width from 12.84 to 55.34 mm, seed weight from 0.1 to 1.0 g, seed length from 8.30 to 20.88 mm, fruit width from 7.04 to 14.88 mm, seed thickness from 1.98 to 7.09 mm and number of seeds in the fruit from 1 to 8. Partenocarpic fruits are found in some genotypes. The shape indexes of fruits and seeds were found ranging from 0.74 to 1.10 and from 1.01 to 1.77, respectively. During the analysis of qualitative composition and quantitative content of volatiles of fruits from the 4 perspective genotypes of Diospyros virginiana 106 compounds were detected. From them 83 compounds were identified. The identified compounds belong to alcohols, saturated and unsaturated aldehydes, ketons, fatty acids, esters, terpenoids etc. The fruits are rich in fat acids. The outcome of the research points to the fact that the genepool of Ukrainian Diospyros virginiana is a rich source of genetic diversity and might be used in selection for creation a new genotypes and cultivars

The morphological and antioxidant characteristics of inflorescences within wild-growing genotypes of elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.)

The aim of this study was to determine the basic morphological characteristics (weight, length) and antioxidant activity (using DPPH method) of elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) inflorescences as well as some elderberry-derived food products prepared from fresh (honey, alcoholic extract, tea infusions) and dried inflorescences (syrup). For the study of problematic, it was used 113 wild-growing genotypes of elderberry from 56 locations in Slovakia growing at an altitude of 98.15 - 712.32 m. The weight of fresh inflorescences ranged from 0.45 to 57.59 g (75.65% coefficient of variation value), the total length of inflorescences ranged from 19.0 to 282.0 mm (22.42%), the length of inflorescence&acute;s stems from 9.0 to 197.0 mm (31.51%), a number of petals predominated pentanumerous petals. Variability in primary and secondary branching reported a&nbsp;low to high degree of variability among as well as within the genotypes. Results showed significant differences in the shape of inflorescences and the colour of flowers among each genotype. Antioxidant activity by DPPH method in elderberry inflorescence water extract was between 85.12 and 89.29%. Activation of tea infusions and beverages was ensured using a&nbsp;mechanism Kalyxx based on galvanic effect. In beverages made from 10% diluted honey prepared from fresh inflorescences in the carbohydrate-based extract, anti-radical activity was determined in the range of 16.81 - 24.16%. In an alcoholic extract from fresh inflorescences, anti-radical activity was between 90.99 and 93.16%. In beverages acquired from the syrup of flowers, we identified antioxidant activity ranging from 37.92 (10%) to 62.82% (40%). Results indicated that elderberry inflorescences and elderberry-derived food products can be attractive to consumers and in future can increase the assortments of healthy products. <br /

Variation of fruits morphometric parameters of Elaeagnus multiflora thunb. germplasm collection

The aim of this study was to determine morphometric parameters of fruits within some genotypes of Elaeagnus multiflora Thunb., which are growing in the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine in M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of NAS of Ukraine (NBG). Their morphometric parameters were following: fruit weight from 0.32 to 1.89 g, fruit length from 7.60 to 19.54 mm, fruit diameter from 4.39 to 10.32 mm, seed weight from 0.10 to 0.41 g, seed length from 7.40 to 13.30 mm, seed diameter from 1.34 to 5.07 mm. The shape indexes of fruits and seeds were found ranging from 1.25 to 1.56 and from 2.90 to 4.04, respectively. The analysis of coefficient of variation showed the difference of variability in morphometric characteristics between Elaeagnus multiflora samples. Data showed that the most variability of important selection characteristics is the average cumulative seeds weight - from 18.72 to 36.61%, seeds diameter - from 10.46 to 24.29%, fruits weight - from 9.15 to 22.24%. The other characteristics are more or less stable. Collected quantitative data were subjected to principal hierarchical cluster analysis. The cluster analysis of morphometric parameters exhibited that the Elaeagnus multiflora genotypes fell into two clusters. These cluster analysis results suggest that broad morphologic diversity was found in Elaeagnus multiflora genotypes examined in this study. The introduction population of the Elaeagnus multiflora, was created in the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden in Kyiv, has a sufficient potential for successful selection work. These preliminary results could open the interest of farmers in this Elaeagnus multiflora and will be precedent for future domestication and introduction of the species in the agroproductive system in Ukraine and the rest of the world. <br /

Morphological characteristic of fruit, drupes and seeds genotypes of Ziziphus jujuba Mill.

The aim of this work is to discriminate 28 Ziziphus jujuba Mill. genotypes (ZJ-01 - ZJ-28) based on weight and morphological characteristics of fruit, stones and seeds. These genotypes maintained in a clone repository (Nova Kachovka, Ukraine) were chosen for investigation as potential species for cultivation and use in Slovakia. The fruits were collected at the period of their full maturity (October); their morphometric parameters were following: weight from 2.90 g (ZJ-13) to 28.99 g (ZJ-22), length from 20.73 mm (ZJ-08) to 44.84 mm (ZJ-04), and width from 16.64 mm (ZJ-13) to 38.87 mm (ZJ-22). Isolated stones were also analysed, and their weight was from 0.173 g (ZJ-07) to 0.731 g (ZJ-20), length from 12.84 mm (ZJ-08) to 28.67 mm (ZJ-04), and width from 5.06 mm (ZJ-07) to 9.74 mm (ZJ-01). The weight of the seeds was ranging from 20.00 mg (ZJ-25) to 69.11 mg (ZJ-12), length from 7.24 mm (ZJ-15) to 11.85 mm (ZJ-04), and width was from 3.86 mm (ZJ-05) to 6.84 mm (ZJ-12). Significant differences in the size, shape and color of fruits, stones and seeds were also identified. The pulp, seedless stones and seeds constitute 92.81% (ZJ-26) - 98.32% (ZJ-04), 1.36% (ZJ-04) - 6.27% (ZJ-20), and 0.25% (QA-24, QA-25) - 1.21% (ZJ-16) of the total fruits weight, respectively The shape index of the fruits was found in the range of 1.04 (ZJ-08) to 2.00 (ZJ-12 and ZJ-25). The shape indexes of stones and seeds were found ranging from 1.74 (ZJ-08) to 4.53 (ZJ-05) and from 1.32 (ZJ-23) to 2.74 (ZJ-04), respectively. The relative weight of pulp was determined in the range from 92.76% (ZJ-13) to 98.32% (ZJ-04) and the relative weight of seed was determined in the range of 0.25% (ZJ-24 and ZJ-25) to 1.16% (ZJ-26). The Chinese jujube genotypes of this study were grouped based on hierarchical clustering of the fruit, stone and seed characteristics