HORTSCIENCE 54(6):1005–1012. 2019. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI13960-19 (Di Matteo et al., 2016; Di Vaio et al., 2015; Faniadis et al., 2010; Goncxalves et al., 2007; Ko1odziejczyk et al., 2013). This has stimu- Quality and Nutritional Compounds of lated research aimed at obtaining knowledge of the effects of these factors on qualitative Prunus Cerasus L. Var. Austera Fruit and nutritionally relevant characteristics of fruits and vegetables (Di Vaio et al., 2015; Grown in Central Italy Kalt, 2006). However, for cherry, this type of research has largely been restricted to culti- Simona Proietti, Stefano Moscatello, Fiorella Villani, vars of sweet cherry (Di Matteo et al., 2016; and Federica Mecucci Faniadis et al., 2010; Papapetros et al., 2018). Istituto di Ricerca sugli Ecosistemi Terrestri (IRET) Consiglio Nazionale Therefore, very little information is available regarding the influence of either the genotype delle Ricerche (CNR), 05010 Porano (TR), Italy or the growing conditions on the nutritional Robert P. Walker and Franco Famiani and industrial quality of sour cherry fruit from the cultivar austera. Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Universita degli The austera cultivar is commercially cul- Studi di Perugia, Via Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121, Perugia, Italy tivated in Europe, particularly Hungary, Ser- 1 bia, Turkey, and Poland (Steger-Mate, 2012). Alberto Battistelli In Italy, the austere cultivar was traditionally Istituto di Ricerca sugli Ecosistemi Terrestri (IRET) Consiglio Nazionale appreciated, and one tree or a small number delle Ricerche (CNR), 05010 Porano (TR), Italy of trees were grown on farms as a supple- mentary source of food before the moderni- Additional index words. Morello sour cherry, anthocyanins, bioactive compounds, flesh dry zation of agriculture. The fruit was and still is matter, malic acid, sugars used for different traditional preparations Abstract. Key nutritional characteristics of the fruit flesh of 41 sour cherries growing in (jams, conserves, or liquor), whereas the the region of Umbria in central Italy have been determined. Fruit size, flesh dry matter fresh fruit was and still is rarely consumed content, nonstructural carbohydrates, organic acids, and anthocyanins were the because of its acidic taste. Remnant plants analyzed parameters. Both the growing environment and genotype were statistically from that time period are still the main source significant for most of the characteristics. Morello sour cherries were characterized by a of fruit for personal and commercial use. large amount of sorbitol (up to 44.2 mg·gL1 FW), which contributed significantly to the Increasing interest from the food and bever- dry matter content of the flesh, malic acid content that was higher (up to 48.4 mg·gL1 FW) age industry in sour cherry has encouraged than any published values for cherry flesh, and high anthocyanin content (up to 383.4 mg the planting of sour cherry in orchards and per 100 g FW). Cyanidin 3-glucosyl rutinoside was the most abundant compound. The conferred greater value to the traditional analyzed germplasm could be the basis for breeding programs and new industrial preparations for commercial use. However, products with high nutritional value. it is difficult to industrialize sour cherry production due to the lack of a consolidated set of horticultural techniques, qualified and The term ‘‘cherry’’ identifies a group of generated confusion regarding the character- certified reproduction materials for the estab- species belonging to the genus Prunus within istics of the flesh of each sour cherry cultivar, lishment of new orchards, and knowledge the family Rosaceae that is native to Europe particularly the nutritional aspects. about what influences the quality character- and Western Asia (Steger-Mate, 2012). The fruit of sour cherry is rich in nutritional istics needed for industrial use that meet the Sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.), the most components that are thought to be beneficial to requirements for products rich in nutraceut- cultivated species, is grown for its fruit in human health (Chaovanalikit and Wrolstad, ical components (Di Vaio et al., 2015). In the temperate regions of the world. There are 2004; Mikulic-Petkovsek et al., 2016; Siddiq case of the wine industry, for example, grape numerous cultivars of sweet cherry that have et al., 2011). The consumption of sour cherry cultivation achieves the fruit quality required both nutritional and commercial importance. has been reported to decrease the risk of for the production of each specific type of According to FAOSTAT (2017), the leading certain cancers, decrease arthritic pain, de- wine. In the case of sour cherry, this type of world producers in 2017 were Turkey, the crease systemic and local inflammation, and organization for producing fruit in line with its industrial transformation is absent. Hence, Russian Federation, Ukraine, the United decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes and certain because of the growing interest in sour States, and Iran. There are three main culti- cardiovascular diseases (McCune et al., 2011). cherry–based products, it is essential to in- vars of sour cherry, also known as tart cherry In addition to several important dietary com- (Prunus cerasus L.): caproniana or amarella crease our knowledge of the genetic charac- ponents, such as fiber, carbohydrates, min- teristics and nutritional and industrial quality cherry, with light-colored flesh; marasca, erals, and organic acids (Mikulic-Petkovsek with soft red flesh and a slightly tart flavor; of Prunus cerasus L. var. austera germplasm. et al., 2016), the fruit from the genus Prunus is The hypotheses of the present work were and austera or Morello cherry, with dark red a source of various phenolic compounds, flesh and strong acidic juice (Steger-Mate, as follows: the sour cherry cultivar austera including anthocyanins and polyphenols 2012). Studies of sour cherry have rarely possesses distinct nutritional quality charac- (Blando et al., 2004; Ko1odziejczyk et al., indicated the cultivar used, and this has teristics with regard to the caproniana and 2013; Siddiq et al., 2011). These metabolites marasca cultivars; the germplasm of sour are abundant in sour cherries, reaching values cherries present in different areas of central more than 80 mg per 100 g FW (Ballistreri Italy (region of Umbria) has large variability Received for publication 11 Feb. 2019. Accepted et al., 2013; Blando et al., 2004). Furthermore, in terms of nutritional quality parameters; the for publication 21 Mar. 2019. anthocyanins have high bioavailability in both nutritional quality parameters can be affected We thank Marcello Cherubini for his invaluable fresh and processed fruit and largely contrib- by the genetic background and the growing support with the germplasm sampling procedures. ute to the attractive red color of both the fruit environment; and the nutritional quality char- This study was supported by the FANP project and fruit products (McDougall et al., 2005; [Frutti Antichi per Nuovi Prodotti (Ancient Fruit acteristics of the germplasm from central for New Products)] and grants from PSR Umbria Toydemir et al., 2013). Italy could be exploited for industrial trans- 2007–2013. The composition of the fruit is greatly formation of this highly valuable fruit. 1Corresponding author. E-mail: alberto.battistelli@ dependent on genotype, environmental con- The sour cherry cultivar austera was cnr.it. ditions, and agronomic and storage practices shown to possess distinctive compositional HORTSCIENCE VOL. 54(6) JUNE 2019 1005 characteristics regarding the caproniana and Sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose, sorbi- Sugars were determined using a cell contain- marasca cultivars. Moreover, the germplasm tol, starch) and inorganic anions were ing a gold working electrode (diameter, 1.0) available in central Italy possesses wide determined by high-performance anion ex- together with an Ag/AgCl reference elec- variability of key compositional traits. This change chromatography using pulsed amper- trode, and the resulting electrical signals germplasm can represent valuable material to ometric detection (ICS-5000; Dionex were integrated to provide the values in boost the production and transformation of Thermo Scientific, Sunnyvale, CA). Organic nanocoulombs (nC). Runs were performed the fruit and to provide consumers with acids were determined using the same at 30 °C, and NaOH (10 mmol·L–1) was used products with high nutritional value. method, but malic acid was determined using as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.5 an enzyme-coupled spectrophotometric as- mL·min–1. A post-column addition of 300 Materials and Methods say described by Walker et al. (2011). Sugars mmol·L–1 of NaOH at a flow rate of 0.25 were extracted as described by Walker et al. mL·min–1 was used. Inorganic anions were Plant material. In 2013, Morello sour (2011), and these extracts were then passed determined in the same extracts as those used cherries were collected from 41 individual through a 0.2-mm PPII syringe filter for the sugar determinations with the same scattered trees growing in different locations (Whatman Inc., Maidstone, UK). The sugars chromatographic system (ICS-5000; Dionex in the region of Umbria in central Italy. None were then separated using an analytical Carbo- Thermo Scientific). However, for inorganic of the sampled plants was grafted. The plants Pac PA20 column (3 mm · 150 mm, i.d. anion determinations, the system used a were mature, although the age was not tested 5 mm) with a guard column in series and conductivity detector, an analytical IonPac and they were not part of commercial or- upstream of the aforementioned column. AS11-HC column (4 mm · 250 mm, i.d. chards. The locations of the plants were the Upper River Valley of the Tiber Tevere (northern Umbria), Valnerina (south- eastern Umbria), Orvieto city area (southwest- ern Umbria), and the Amerini Hills (southern Umbria). The Upper River Valley of the Tiber Tevere (northern Umbria) is character- ized by an annual average temperature of 13 °C and rainfall of 870 mm. The Valn- vaslerina (southeastern Umbria) is character- ized by an annual average temperature of 13.5 °C and rainfall of 980 mm.