Physicochemical properties were assessed for the fruit of 16 saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia Nutt.) cultivars harvested in 1998–2000 from replicated trials at two sites (Saskatoon and Moonlake, SK). The cultivars included Bluff, Buffalo, Elizabeth (at Saskatoon only), Forestburg, Honeywood, JB30, Martin, Nelson, Northline, PAR 90, Parkhill, Pearson II, Pembina, Smoky, Success, and Thiessen. Fruit weight and total solids, soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, anthocyanin content, and colour characteristics of the fruit juice extracts were measured. Fruit of Martin, Thiessen and PAR 90 had the highest fruit weights (mean = 1.63 g), and Success and Bluff the lowest (mean = 0.79 g). Total and soluble solids contents ranged among cultivars from 19.9% and 14.0 °Brix, respectively, for JB30, to 27.9% and 20.1 °Brix, respectively, for Pembina. Fruit pH ranged from 3.65 for Nelson to 4.18 for Parkhill and Smoky. Fruit of Nelson had a titratable acidity (0.63%) that was approximately twice that of Success, Pearson II, Forestburg, Honeywood, Smoky and Parkhill. The soluble solids to titratable acidity ratio (SS/TA) differed greatly among cultivars ranging from 27 for JB30 to 55 for Parkhill. The colour characteristics of the fruit juice extracts differed among cultivars in chroma and L values, but not in hue angle. Anthocyanin analysis by HPLC identified four peaks: cyanidin-3-galactoside, cyanidin-3- glucoside and two unknowns. Total fruit anthocyanin content ranged from 414 µg g-1 for Forestburg to 852 µg g-1 for Nelson. Correlations were found between anthocyanin content and fruit pH, titratable acidity, hue angle and L value. Key words: Amelanchier alnifolia, saskatoon, fruit composition, acidity, anthocyanin content

, and black currant (Ribes nigrum L.) were assessed from fruit harvested from replicated cultivar trials at Saskatoon, SK, and at Yorkton, SK, in 1999 and 2000. Fruit weight, total solids, soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, percent pit, estimated percent flesh, and Hunterlab colour characteristics were measured. Fruit of the chokecherry cultivars ranged in their 10-fruit weights from 6.6 to 9.2 g, percent pit from 9.4 to 16.0%, estimated percent flesh from 17.2 to 23.7%, and pH from 3.86 to 4.25. Mean total solids and soluble solids contents were 35.2% and 18.3°Brix, respectively, and did not differ among the cultivars. Hue angle, chroma and L values of chokecherry fruit juice extracts ranged from 34.6 to 88.2°, 15.3 to 23.9, and 23.3 to 51.1, respectively. Fruit of the highbush cranberry cultivars ranged in their 10-fruit weights from 4.1 to 7.3 g, percent pit from 4.6 to 9.0%, estimated percent flesh from 10.9 to 14.0%, soluble solids content from 10.2 to 13.3°Brix, and pH from 2.89 to 3.13. The hue angle and L values of the fruit juice extracts of the highbush cranberry cultivars ranged from 16.0 to 18.2°, and from 15.5 to 21.3, respectively. Mean total solids content and L values were 18.9% and 18.0, respectively; both measurements did not differ significantly among the cultivars. Fruit of the black currant cultivars differed only in their 10-fruit weight, pH and titratable acidity which ranged from 7.5 to 12.8 g, 2.85 to 3.04, and 3.04 to 4.03%, respectively. Mean total solids and soluble solids contents of black currant fruit were 22.3% and 15.8 o Brix, respectively. Black currant fruit juice extracts had a mean hue angle, chroma and L values of 13.2°, 12.6 and 9.8, respectively.

. 2005. Evaluation of growth, yield, and fruit size of chokecherry, pincherry, highbush cranberry, and black currant cultivars in Saskatchewan. Can. J. Plant Sci. 85: 659-664. The objective of this study was to quantitatively characterize the growth, yield and fruit size of cultivars of chokecherry (Prunus virginiana L.), pincherry (Prunus pensylvanica L.f.), highbush cranberry (Viburnum trilobum Marsh.), and black currant (Ribes nigrum L.). Cultivars were evaluated in replicated trials at two sites (Saskatoon and Outlook) in Saskatchewan over 2-5 yr. Espenant, Garrington, Lee Red, and Boughen Yellow were among the highest yielding of the chokecherry cultivars (mean yield = 7.2 kg plant -1 at Saskatoon); of these, Lee Red had the largest fruit. The pincherry cultivar Lee #4 (mean yield = 3.1 kg plant -1 ) yielded at least twice as much as Mary Liss or Jumping Pound. Highbush cranberry cultivars Alaska, Espenant, Garry Pink, Manitou, and Wentworth averaged yields of 2.0 kg plant -1 at Saskatoon. Of these, Manitou had the largest fruit. Two black currant trials were established; the cultivars included in the second trial were not available at the time of establishment of the first trial. Black currant yields ranged from 0.2 kg plant -1 for Willoughby to 1.0 kg plant -1 for Consort in the first trial, and from 0.2 kg plant -1 for the selection 4-24-29 to 2.0 kg plant -1 for McGinnis Black in the second trial. Black currant cultivars with the largest fruit size included Wellington, Topsy, and three numbered selections from the University of Saskatchewan (mean = 225 fruit/cup) in the first trial, and Ben Sarek, McGinnis Black, and Ben Alder (mean = 156 fruit/cup) in the second trial. Data from the current study provide a basis on which to evaluate the performance of currently available cultivars, and any new cultivars or future selections that may be developed.

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