Sustainable Cornelian Cherry Production in Montenegro: Importance of Local Genetic Resources

Cornelian cherries has been grown Balkan peninsula no apparent disease and pest problems for centuries. The most important pomological and technological properties of cornelian cherry genetic resources (eleven local and introduced varieties and selections) in Gornje Polimlje, Montenegro were studied in four-year periods. Fruit weight, stone weight, and mesocarp/stone ratio shows great variation and varied between 1.89 to 6.16 g, 0.32 to 0.64 g and between 76.66 and 90.59%, respectively. Genotypes significantly differed each other in terms of yield determined as per trunk cross section area (TCSA). For better visualization of the agronomical traits important to the yield, i.e., yield per TCSA and fruit weight data is presented in combination as measured in the years of study. The best promising genotypes are Vladimirskiy, Chisinau yellow, and Krupnoplodni NS, which had consistently higher yield and large fruits for sustainable fruit production. Dry matter, total sugars, reducing sugars, sucrose, total acidity, Ca–pectate, vitamin C, total anthocyanins, total polyphenols, and ash content of cornelian cherry cultivars and selections were found between 19.81–24.46%, 10.94–14.47%, 10.44–13.09%, 0.24–1.23%, 1.92–2.51%, 2.76–4.43%, 41.09–101.27 mg/100 g, 0–157.06 mg/100 g, 183.91–307.9 mg/100 g, and 0.89–1.16%, respectively. The amount of potassium, which predominates in percentage of minerals in the ash, ranged from 2888 to 3574 mg/kg. The extensiveness of the study leads, therefore, to several clear conclusions and recommendations. Consistently, the best balance of biochemical elements in combination with good yield and fruit size measurements is found in selection Krupnoplodi NS. If consider fruit size and yield efficiency are priority, Vladimirskiy, Chisinau yellow, Kosten 3, and Krupnoplodni NS have clear advantage over the other genotypes. The study highlights the importance of local cornelian cherry selections for sustainable cornelian cherry production in Montenegro. View Full-Text