Abstract:

This research was carried out to assess the biochemical diversity of the fruits of mulberry genotypes grown in Muş Province in the eastern Anatolia region and to determine the genotypes available for breeding. Morphological and biochemical characteristics of 13 mulberry fruit genotypes, including 5 white (Morus alba) and 8 black (Morus nigra), were determined. Fruit antioxidant capacity was determined by Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assay. Fruit weight, pH, soluble solid content, titratable acidity, vitamin C, and antioxidant capacity were 1.38-3.77 g, 4.77-6.79, 14.33%-23.50%, 0.53%-2.20%, 4.47-35.83 mg 100 g-1, and 4.33-13.63 µmol Trolox equivalent g, respectively, indicating enough diversity among genotypes for future breeding activities. Considering all genotypes, malic acid was dominant, and the highest malic acid content was detected in 4 Morus nigra genotypes as 8.546 mg g-1 fresh weight. Chlorogenic acid, rutin, and gallic acid were determined as the main phenolics among white and black mulberry genotypes. The highest chlorogenic acid, rutin, and gallic acid contents were found in black mulberry genotypes as 2.511 mg g-1 (Morus nigra 1), 1.285 mg g-1 (Morus nigra 1), and 1.162 mg g-1 (Morus nigra 3), respectively. In general, the genotypes sampled and used in the present study exhibited a broad range of variation.

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