Postharvest changes in primary and secondary metabolites of sweet cherry cultivars induced by Monilinia laxa

The aim of the study was to evaluate in which way nine cultivars of sweet cherry fruit cope with postharvest, artificial inoculation with Monilinia laxa pathogenic fungus through changes in sugars, organic acids and polyphenolic compounds, as well as which phenolics compounds are crucial participants in coping with the disease. Contents of sugars in this study were (g kg(-1) dry weight): glucose 205-439 and 268-443, fructose 175-398.9 and 208.6-365.8 and sucrose 20-47.6 and 19.2-38.6 in healthy and infected fruit, respectively. Organic acids detected in sweet cherry cultivars were citric, malic, quinic, shikimic and fumaric acid and their content varied depending on cultivar and treatment. Only 'Burlat' accumulated tartaric acid after the infection. Of all phenolic acids, which content decreased in infected fruit, it is clear that only the more tolerant genotypes 'Merchant', 'Lionska', and 'Sue' enhanced content of 3-feruloylquinic acid (in healthy up to 93 and in infected fruit 105.3-139.1 mg kg(-1)). The most abundant anthocyanins were cyanidin derivatives (80-266.1 and 10-3700 mg kg(-1) in healthy and infected fruit, respectively). 'Burlat', 'Junska rana', 'Merchant' and 'Summit' dominantly had cyanidin-glucoside, while only infected fruit of 'Priusadebnaja' and 'Asenova rana' accumulated cyanidin-glucoside. 'Priusadebnaja', 'Asenova rana' and 'Lionska' had cyanidin-rutinoside. 'Lionska', 'Sue' and 'Asenova rana' had higher cyanidin and peonidin derivative contents in infected fruit (1.2 to 3-fold higher). Peonidine derivatives (peonidin glucoside and rutinoside), 5-carboxypyrano-cyanidin-rutinoside content mostly decreased after the infection (14.9-97.7 %). Bearing in mind obtained results, 3-feruloylquinic acid, flavonols and anthocyanins could be proposed as crucial participants in coping with the disease

The Influence of Early Yield on the Accumulation of Major Taste and Health-Related Compounds in Black and Red Currant Cultivars (Ribes spp.)

The focus of our study was to investigate the effect of crop load on the accumulation and composition of primary metabolites (sugars and organic acids), selected groups of flavonoids (anthocyanins and flavonols), and total phenolics in two subsequent years in four black currant cultivars ('Titania', 'Triton', 'Tsema', and 'Cacanska crna') and three red currant cultivars ('Junifer', 'Rolan', and 'Stanza'). For the determination and quantification of compounds, high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array with a mass spectrometer was used. Significant differences among cultivars were detected in all analyzed compounds. Anthocyanins were the predominant phenolic group and were more abundant in black currant cultivars as compared to red ones. Similar amounts of sugars and organic acids were measured in both Ribes species; however, vitamin C was 3-fold higher in black currants. A larger crop load in the second year had a negative effect on the sugar content of berries and promoted a higher degree of acids, with the exception of vitamin C, which was higher in the year with a lower crop load. On the other hand, the content of anthocyanins and flavonols was higher in the year with a larger crop load, while there were no differences in total phenolic content

Quality parameters change during ripening in leaves and fruits of wild growing and cultivated elderberry (Sambucus nigra) genotypes

This is the first report on the difference in the contents of the major quality compounds during development among cultivated ('Haschberg' cultivar and 'Ljubostinja' selection) and wild edible elderberry plants. Phenolics content in leaves (four stages) and fruits (unripe and ripe), as well as organic acids and sugars content in unripe and ripe fruits were determined. Quinic acid was the major organic acid in unripe fruits (especially in 'Wild' plants 16.7 g 100 g(-1)), while ripe fruits accumulated citric acid in the highest amounts (the highest was in' Ljubostinja' 10.2 g 100 g(-1)). 'Wild' elderberry plants had significantly higher sugar content in fruits, in general (2.2 unripe and in ripe 8.4 g 100 g(-1)), except for fructose content which was the highest in' Ljubostinja' ripe fruits (up to 6-fold higher). Tested elderberry plants had four major groups of phenolics in their leaves and fruits during development: phenolic acids (caffeic and caffeoylquinic acid derivatives), flavanone, flavonols (quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin derivatives) and anthocyanins (mostly cyanidin derivatives).' Ljubostinja' had higher content of cyanidin derivatives in leaves in flowering stage and in all tested fruits (0.01% DW in unripe and 0.7% DW in ripe). Bearing in mind all tested quality parameters, 'Ljubostinja' selection had better quality of fruits, which position this selection as valuable resource for further cultivation and breeding of elderberry

Comparison of phenolic profiles and antioxidant properties of European Fagopyrum esculentum cultivars

The purpose of this study was to investigate composition and content of phenolic compounds in seeds of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) cultivars from Western, Central and Southeastern Europe grown in the Balkan area, and to compare them with cultivars from the Balkan. Mostly detected hydroxycinnamic acids in seeds of the investigated cultivars were caffeic and chlorogenic acid derivatives. More than ten different flavanols were detected in the investigated seeds, based on which all tested buckwheat cultivars were divided into two groups: those with high propelargonidins (epiafzelechin-epicatechin) and those with high procyanidins contents. 'Novosadska' had the highest level of phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins, flavones and most of the flavonols. However, 'Bosna 1' and 'Bosna 2' Were highlighted with the greatest rutin content (up to 46 times higher than in other cultivars). All buckwheat cultivars had quite high antioxidant capacity (more than 80% of neutralized radicals), yet, 'Novosadska', 'Godijevo', 'Spacinska 1' and 'Bamby' excelled

Influence of shading net on polyphenol profile and radical scavenging activity in different varieties of black currant berries

Changes of environmental factors, created under influence of various shading nets, could significantly affect some pomological and organoleptic characteristics of plants grown in such conditions as well as biosynthesis of phenolic compounds. Five black currant cultivars Ben Sarek, Ben Nevis, Ben Lomond, Ometa, and Cacanska crna were cultivated either in the shade of green polyethylene nets or exposed to direct sunlight during two experimental seasons. All berries in the control treatment (without shading nets) contained higher amounts of total phenolics in both experimental seasons: 474-520 mg GAE/100 g in 2010, and in 2011 it ranged from 401 to 501 mg GAE/100 g. Similar but less expressed trend was noticed regarding anthocyanins content. Growing in shade generally led to a lower content of flavonoid, phenolic acid and anthocyanin compounds, determined by HPLC/MS. Despite the reduction of phenolic compounds content, all tested varieties expressed significant radical scavenging activity against DPPH radical, and differences in antiradical activity were statistically significant only between varieties