Bioactive compounds in fruits of newly introduced sweet cherry cultivars in Herzegovina

Authors

• JASMINA ALIMAN, University of Džemal Bijedić, Faculty of Agriculture, Mostar, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFollow
• MIRJANA RADOVIĆ, University of East Sarajevo, Faculty of Agriculture, East Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFollow
• AHMED DŽUBUR, University of Džemal Bijedić, Faculty of Agriculture, Mostar, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFollow
• JASNA HASANBEGOVIĆ, University of Džemal Bijedić, Faculty of Agriculture, Mostar, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFollow
• DŽENAN VUKOTIĆ, Federal Institute for Agropedology, Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFollow
• ALEKSANDRA ŠUPLJEGLAV JUKIĆ, University of Džemal Bijedić, Faculty of Agriculture, Mostar, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFollow
• SENAD MURTIĆ, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Science, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFollow
• MIHAJLO LIZDEK, University of East Sarajevo, Faculty of Agriculture, East Sarajevo, Bosnia and HerzegovinaFollow

Abstract

This study evaluated the biochemical characteristics and bioactive compounds of 3 newly introduced Italian sweet cherry cultivars (Sweet Valina, Sweet Stephany, and Sweet Gabriel) grown under the agroecological conditions of Herzegovina (Mostar and Trebinje). The analysis included total soluble solids, total acidity, sweetness index, total phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents, and antioxidant capacity in fruit skin and flesh. Significant differences were observed among cultivars, locations, and their interactions for most analyzed parameters. Fruits from Trebinje generally exhibited higher antioxidant capacity, total phenolic contents in the skin, soluble solids contents, and sweetness index values. Sweet Valina, particularly at the Trebinje location, showed the highest total soluble solids (20.5%) and sweetness index value (51.25), indicating superior fruit quality. Sweet Stephany was distinguished by elevated total flavonoid content and antioxidant activity in the fruit skin. Principal component analysis revealed that the first two components explained nearly 80% of total variability, with sweetness index and antioxidant-related traits contributing most strongly to cultivar differentiation. The results demonstrate good adaptability of the tested cultivars to the conditions of Herzegovina, with Sweet Valina standing out as the most promising cultivar in terms of fruit quality and bioactive potential.

Author ORCID Identifier

JASMINA ALIMAN: 0000-0001-8391-784X

MIRJANA RADOVIĆ: 0000-0001-6567-6536

AHMED DŽUBUR: 0009-0002-0501-6258

JASNA HASANBEGOVIĆ: 0000-0002-7635-5401

DŽENAN VUKOTIĆ: 0009-0002-9621-593X

ALEKSANDRA JUKIĆ: 0000-0001-6793-4340

SENAD MURTIĆ: 0009-0008-5737-6574

MIHAJLO LIZDEK: 0009-0000-0181-0134

DOI

10.55730/1300-011X.3495

Keywords

Prunus avium L., phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, sweetness index, genotype × environment interaction

First Page

668

Last Page

679

Publisher

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

ALIMAN, J, RADOVIĆ, M, DŽUBUR, A, HASANBEGOVIĆ, J, VUKOTIĆ, D, JUKIĆ, A. Š, MURTIĆ, S, & LIZDEK, M (2026). Bioactive compounds in fruits of newly introduced sweet cherry cultivars in Herzegovina. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry 50 (5): 668-679. https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-011X.3495