Estimation of certain physical andchemical fruit characteristics ofvarious cherry laurel (Laurocerasusofficinalis roem.) genotypes

Abstract

Fruits of 11 cherry laurel (Laurocerasus officinalis L.) genotypes grown in a singlelocation, Rize province, were analyzed for their fruit characteristics. Both physical andchemical characteristics of cherry laurel fruits were significantly influenced by genotypes.Fruit weight, the number of fruits per cluster, and flesh per seed ratio ranged between 1.87and 4.01 g; 9.21 and 21.05, and 5.54 and 9.33, respectively. The genotypes R06 and R09had the highest total anthocyanin 1/2205 and 202 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW), respectively_and R06 and R11 had the highest total phenolic contents (503 and 481 mg/100 g FW,respectively). Total carotenoid and vitamin C contents ranged from 207 to 278 mg/100 gFW and 2.1 to 4.1 mg/100 g FW, respectively. Soluble solid content (SSC), crude fiber,crude protein, pectin, ash, and pHof genotypes fell between 9.64%and 17.10%;0.44%and0.85%; 1.44% and 2.09%; 0.20% and 0.47%; 0.25% and 0.71%, and 4.30 and 4.93,respectively. Data demonstrated that the great variations observed in the physical andchemical characteristics of individual cherry laurel genotypes might be explained bygenotypic effect because all genotypes grew under the same ecological conditions. Theinvestigated genotypes seemed to be perspective in health promotion.