Pomological,Morphological,and Biochemical Characteristics of Black Chokeberry (× Sorbaronia fallax nothosubsp. mitschurinii ) Cultivars

Abstract

Background

Black chokeberry (×Sorbaronia fallax nothosubsp. mitschurinii; syn. Aronia melanocarpa) is valued for its agronomic resilience and exceptional biochemical profile, rich in phenolics and antioxidants. Cultivar selection based on a comprehensive evaluation of morphological, pomological, and biochemical traits is crucial for optimizing production and nutraceutical applications. However, integrated assessments combining these traits with adapted International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) descriptors under Mediterranean conditions remain limited.

Results

Significant phenotypic and biochemical diversity was observed among the three cultivars (‘Galicjanka’, ‘Nero’, ‘Viking’). ‘Viking’ exhibited superior fruit weight (1.28 g), soluble solid content (23.03 °Brix), total phenolic content (6360.79 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) 100 g⁻¹ fresh weight (FW)), total antioxidant capacity (76.44% radical scavenging activity), and total anthocyanin content (1168.39 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalents (CGE) 100 g⁻¹ FW). ‘Galicjanka’ and ‘Viking’ demonstrated stronger vegetative vigor, denser canopy architecture, and higher yield. Multivariate analyses revealed strong correlations, particularly between total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity (r = 1.00), and principal component analysis (PCA) identified three major components explaining 65.70% of total variance, integrating vegetative vigor, fruit quality, and biochemical composition.

Conclusions

This study provides a comprehensive characterization of black chokeberry cultivars using adapted UPOV descriptors, highlighting ‘Viking’ as ideal for nutraceutical use and ‘Galicjanka’ for high-yield systems. The findings establish a foundational resource for breeding, germplasm conservation, and cultivar-specific cultivation strategies in Mediterranean climates.