A number of selected cornelian cherry wild genotypes were investigated regarding antioxidant capacity, total phenols, total flavonoids and colour component. The total phenolic, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity of methanol extract of cornelian cherry fruits were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu, colorimetric and DPPH methods, respectively. Total phenolic content ranged from 163.69 (S1) to 359.28 (H2) mg GAE 100 g-1 FW. Genotypes H2 and H3 had the highest total phenolic content (359.28 and 343.50 mg GAE 100 g-1 FW, respectively), total flavonoids (54.26 and 64.48 mg QE 100 g-1 FW, respectively) and antioxidant capacity (2.39 and 2.71 mmolTrolox100g-1 FW, respectively). Significant differences of yellow/blue color component (b*), red/ green (a*) color component, values of lightness (L*) and chroma (C) were obtained for extracts from fruits. The present study shows the potential of certain cornelian cherry genotypes as valuable source of natural antioxidants and gene stock for breeding programs.

High variability in populations of Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) from spontaneous flora is an important genetic source for propagation and breeding programs. This study aimed to provide information on the state of genetic resources in C. mas in Romania and on physical-chemical characteristics of fruits in selected genotypes. Over 2 years of study, significant differences in morphometric characteristics were observed. Notably, fruit weight and pulp percentage varied between 1.0 and 2.67 g and between 66.71 and 90.02%, respectively, and a high variability in chemical composition of fruit pulp among population was also observed. The relationships between different morphometric characteristics of fruits confirmed the influence of fruit size on the fruit weight and pulp percentage. Selection and study of C. mas L. genotypes in Oltenia region's spontaneous flora was shown to be useful for introducing the most valuable selections in commercial exploitation.

Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L) is one of the most valuable fruit shrubs of the Cornaceae family, and therefore the vegetative propagation of the valuable selections is necessary because the material obtained must be used for the future. 4 genotypes were studied (2 perspective selections: H1 and H3 and two cultivars used as a control: ‘De Bucovăț’ (B) and ‘De Orhei’ (O) and propagated by grafting (the grafting method used was improved copulation. Biometric observations were focused on diameter below the point of graft (mm), diameter at the graft point (mm), diameter above the graft point (mm), height of graft (cm), number of anticipated, average length of the anticipated (cm), the sum of the anticipated length (cm), the growth increase (cm). Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the grafting method, enhanced copulation, within vegetative propagation, can be successfully used in the production of cornelian cherry planting material next to the other known methods; the growth of the anticipated shoots on plant could cause the appearance of flowering buds and implicitly earliness in fruit-setting.