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Volume 25, Issue 5 (9-2023)
Abstract
An experiment was conducted during eight years (2012–2019) to examine the effect of climatic variations (air temperature and precipitation) on the nutritional quality of berries of three black currant cultivars (‘Ben Lomond’, ‘Titania’ and ‘Čačanska Crna’). HPLC was used for the determination of sugars and organic acids extracted from berries, while ascorbic acid and minerals were evaluated by spectrophotometry. Results indicated that the chemical profile of black currants varied among cultivars. ‘Ben Lomond’ and ‘Čačanska Crna’ exhibited excellent chemical characteristics of the berries, primarily in terms of their high sugars and organic acids content, but ‘Čačanska Crna’ stood out for its highest values of ascorbic acid. Also, seasonal variations caused by temperatures and precipitation affected the biosynthesis of primary metabolites in berries. The heavier precipitation and lower temperatures during berry formation and ripening promoted the accumulation of organic acids and ascorbic acid, as well as minerals P and Fe. Conversely, moderate temperatures and rainfall amounts promoted the synthesis of soluble solids, sugars and proteins, whereas higher temperatures and lower precipitation amount enhanced accumulation of the other tested minerals. PCA analysis showed the correlations among the cultivar/year interactions and identified group patterns. The results showed that the chemical properties of black currant not only depend on the genetic predisposition of the cultivar but also on climatic conditions like air temperature and precipitation, which have an important effect on nutrient metabolism in plants and promote biosynthesis and accumulation of primary metabolites in berries.
Volume 25, Issue 6 (11-2023)
Abstract
Cultivation systems, especially mulching, play an important role in modifying soil properties and have a significant effect on the chemical composition of fruits. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare two cultivation systems (black plastic mulch and bare soil) and determine the associated response of soil characteristics and biochemical composition of chokeberry (cv. ‘Nero’) fruits. Soil properties and fruit phytochemical profile were analyzed using established procedures. Antioxidant activity was determined by several methods and cytotoxic activity was evaluated by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Results indicated that both cultivation systems caused changes in soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. Black plastic mulch led to a greater decrease in clay fractions and most of the agrochemical properties analyzed, and an increase in the numbers of fungi, compared to bare soil. Moreover, mulch was effective in increasing soil temperature and conserving soil moisture by preventing evaporation. This relationship of soil parameters, especially temperature and moisture, under plastic mulch increased the content of certain bioactive phenolic compounds (condensed tannins, gallotannins, and flavonols) and contributed to the strong antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of chokeberry fruits. In contrast, bare soil favored synthesis of other phenolic compounds (total phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols and phenolic acids). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed the effect of cultivation systems on the biochemical composition of fruits. Results showed that cultivation systems had a significant influence on soil characteristics in the chokeberry orchard as well as on the biochemical composition of chokeberry fruits, which indicates different pathways of metabolite synthesis under various cultivation practices.
