Crabapples (Malus spp.) are frequently used as ornamental trees. However, selections differ in decorative impact through blossoming and fruiting traits, growth habit, disease tolerance, ecological adaptability and fruit litter, so that there can be other valuable benefits. The aim of the present investigation was to determine morphometric characteristics of flowers, fruits and seeds within 15 different genotypes of crabapples studied at M.M. Grishko National Botanical Garden in Kyiv, Ukraine. Their main morphometric parameters were as follows: the highest number of flowers in the inflorescence was recorded within trees of ‘Professor Sprenger’ with 5.78 flowers, whereas the corolla was mostly decorative for ‘Royalty’ cultivar, with 5.7 petals; fruit weight varied from 1.49 g (‘Adirondak’) to 20.56 g (‘Era’), length from 12.87 mm (‘Van Ezeltine’) to 25.11 mm (‘Ola’), diameter from 12.0 mm (‘Batterball’) to 26.74 mm (‘Rayka Rozeva’), fruits number 1.0 (‘Era’) to 5.5 (‘Evereste’). The relationships between flowers, fruit and seed traits, accounting 16 traits and 15 cultivars investigated was highlighted by Pearson correlation and were clustered by unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA). The variability observed in the apple crab genotypes offers the possibility to choose and use some valuable ornamental cultivars for the beautification of the landscape, as well as for possible future Malus breeding projects.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the ascorbic acid content in vegetative and generative organs of crabapple from the collection of the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Considering the abundant flowering, higher fruiting in comparison with Malus domestica Borkh., increased content of nutrients and biologically active substances in flowers and leaves of crabapple, they deserve wide use in production. The genotypes were planted to a permanent place of growth in 2014. Total ascorbic acid content in flowers ranged from 116 (Holliana) to 188 (Era) mg / 100 g, in leaves from 112 (Van Ezeltin) to 183 (Royalty) mg / 100 g. The objects of the study are valuable for use as raw materials of biologically active additives. Using the flowers and leaves of Malus spp., As raw materials for the production of dry powder, will meet the needs of consumers for affordable and nutritious ingredients rich in vitamin C.