Fruit quality attributes of blackberry grown under limited environmental conditions

Abstract

Fruit quality attributes were studied for two consecutive years in seven blackberry cultivars grown in a Serbian climate and on acidic soil. Physical parameters [berry weight (BW), size and shape] and chemical parameters [soluble solids content (SSC), acidity, total phenolic (TPH) and flavonoid content (TFC) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)] were evaluated. A high variability was found in the set of the evaluated blackberry cultivars and significant differences were found among them in all studied quality attributes. Year-by-year variations were observed for all quality traits, except berry length (L) and berry shape index (BSI). A high correlation was found among TPH and TAC. In addition, most of cultivars had good adaptation capability and respectable fruit quality attributes, and also had good potential as a commercial crop for fresh and processing markets and future breeding programs.