Wild Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) Genotypes: Morphological, Biochemical, and Antioxidant Diversity

Türkiye is in the homeland of the sweet cherries, and especially the northeastern Anatolia region is very rich in terms of wild sweet cherry genotypes. There are numerous wild sweet cherry trees with different morphological characteristics in the region and contribute significantly to biological diversity. In this study, a total of 12 wild sweet cherry genotypes found in the Bağbaşı district of Erzurum province in Northeastern Türkiye were investigated in terms of some important fruit and tree characteristics. In morphological characterization, trees and fruits of the 12 genotypes were used for tree (tree vigor, tree habit, branching habit), fruit (taste, fruit skin color, fruit weight, soluble solid content, vitamin C, total phenolic, total flavonoid, total anthocyanin content), and antioxidant capacity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate and ferric reducing antioxidant powerassays). Results indicated high differences among genotypes for most of the tree, fruit, and antioxidant characteristics. In general, genotypes had medium tree vigor and semi-upright growth habit. Blackish, dark red, red, light red, and yellow fruit skin color are evident. The genotypes showed fruit weight between 1.19 and 2.06 g, soluble solid content between 19.23% and 22.10%, and total phenolic content between 135 and 249 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g fresh weight base. Total anthocyanin and vitamin C content were found between 3.10 and 113.81 mg/100 g and 15.86 and 20.67 mg/100 g fresh weight base. Results showed that wild sweet cherry genotypes evaluated in this study have shown to be potential sources of bioactive compounds. Fruits have the potential to be explored in the scientific and technological scope, due to their high amounts of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity.