Fruit skin color, total phenolics, total anthocyanins, soluble solids content, titratable acidity and total antioxidant capacity in fresh fruits of a number of local and well-known fig (Ficus carica L.) genotypes and cultivars grown in northeastern Turkey were determined. TEAC (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity) and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) assays were used to determine total antioxidant capacity. Fruit skin color of genotypes were found to be very diverse, i.e., light green, light purple, purple, dark purple and black. The content of total phenolics, soluble solids content (SSC) and titratable acidity greatly varied in the range from 24 to 237 mg of gallic acid equivalent per 100 g fresh weight, 18.60 to 26.30 % and 0.16 to 0.47 % in local genotypes and studied cultivars. In general, total antioxidant capacities determined by two methods expressed higher values in the local fig genotypes compared with the cultivars. The results suggested that genotype is the main factor that determines difference in the composition of bioactive compounds in figs and provide information on putative health benefits locally grown genotypes.

This study was carried out on 13 local cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) genotypes grown in Yusufeli (Artvin) in Northeast Anatolia in Turkey. Cornelian cherry fruits from these 13 genotypes were harvested and analyzed during the ripening period in 2010. Some physical and chemical characteristics of cultivars were determined. Fruit weight and fruit flesh ratio of these genotypes ranged from 2.72 to 4.11 g and 79.08 to 89.99%. Soluble solid content were determined the lowest as 13.7% and the highest as 18.6%. The genotypes had vitamin C between 31 to 70 mg/100 g with average of 50 mg/100 g. Total protein, cellulose, tannin and ash content of genotypes were determined between 0.75-2.18%; 0.36-1.08%; 0.57-1.28% and 0.51-1.13%. The genotypes were found to be free of pest and diseases. The present study showed that there were enough variability among cornelian cherry genotypes grown in same ecological conditions of a small area and these genotypes could be important both to improve nutritional value through germplasm enhancement programmes and to use them in organic production.

The cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) is considered to be one of those medicinal plants with important nutritional and therapeutic properties. The plant shows resistance against abiotic and biotic stressors in natural growing conditions and could be suitable to use in sustainable fruit production. This study was carried out on 22 local cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) genotypes, which were grown northwest of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Fruits of these 22 genotypes were harvested and analyzed during the ripening period in 2018/2019. Fruit weight, length, and width ranged from 1.38 to 3.01 g, 13.84 to 19.43 mm, and 10.92 to 14.79 mm, respectively. Dry matter content was determined to be the lowest at 11.67% and the highest at 21.89%. The genotypes had vitamin C content between 25.85 and 58.75 mg/100 g. Total phenolic and anthocyanin content were found to be quite variable among genotypes and ranged from 1240 to 6958 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per 100 g fresh weight (FW) and 55.57 to 205.6 mg cyaniding-3-glucoside equivalents (CGE) per 100 g FW, respectively. The content of phosphorus and iron were between 155.52 to 263.06 mg per 100 g and 0.25 to 0.93 mg per 100 g, respectively. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that the first and second components accounted for 44.05% and 60.50% of the total variance, and the major proportion of the first and second components were the morphometric properties and chemical traits of the cornelian cherry fruits. The results revealed that the characterized genotypes could be important for cornelian cherry breeders as ready crossing materials to obtain new cornelian cherry varieties and shows the potential of certain genotypes as a valuable source of natural antioxidants. The results may have served as a guide towards the development of sustainable production programs for cornelian cherries as well.

European chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) is highly valued in the western Balkans as a source of timber and fruit, but also as an important source of nectar and pollen for the production of honey. In this study, four chestnut populations, covering a major portion of the western Balkans, and a reference population from the northern Italy were examined using 21 microsatellite markers. The highest genetic diversity was detected within the populations geographically closest to the Italian Peninsula, which also displayed the highest level of admixture with the samples from Italy. The strongest genetic differentiation was noted among the southern and eastern chestnut populations from Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) (Gst=12.05%). This pronounced differentiation is probably caused by the genetic adaptations to notably different climatic conditions present in the south (Mediterranean climate) and east (Continental climate) of B&H. The clear genetic differentiation of the southern and eastern B&H chestnut populations from the Italian population, determined by pairwise Gst, FCA and Bayesian Structure analyses, indicates that these populations most likely originated from independent shelter zones (refugia), after the last glaciation period. Based on these results we propose a presence of an introgression zone in the northwestern Balkans, established through gene flow from the Italian and the Balkan Peninsula. The obtained insights into the structure of all analyzed populations will significantly contribute towards establishing a regional conservation and utilization strategy for European chestnut in western Balkans.

The paper presents the results of the analysis of phenological and morphological characteristics of 3 hazelnut cultivars present in the production plantation in the north-western Bosnia and Herzegovina. The 'Rimski', 'Istarski dugi' and 'Tonda Gentile Romana' cultivars served as research material. Blooming time ranged from December to March. For all cultivars, the occurrence of dichogamy, precisely protandry, was observed. The longest flowering period of both male and female flowers was found in the 'Tonda Gentile Romana' cultivar. The 'Rimski' cultivar had the highest fruit weight (3.04 g). 'Tonda Gentile Romana' had the highest kernel weight (1.50 g). The highest kernel percentage (49%) was found in 'Istarski dugi'. The length of male catkins ranged from 21.73 cm to 29.76 cm. Statistically significant differences among cultivars were found for the following traits: the length of male catkins, the number of female flowers in glomeruli, and the number of nuts on a fruiting shoot. The 'Istarski' cultivar had the highest average length of male catkins (29.76) and the highest number of female flowers in the glomeruli (7.32). 'Tonda Gentile Romana' had the highest number of fruits (20.93) on the shoots. All three cultivars have proven to be good varieties in terms of phenological and morphological characteristics, so they can be recommended for intensive production of this nut crop.