Components of antioxidant activity in berries of black currant varieties from the Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding

Black currant refers to polyvitaminic berry crops. Its berries contain key antioxidant components, namely ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds, including anthocyanins and catechins, characterized by high activity of rutin. The abundant presence of the two vitamins is particularly valuable, considering their synergistic eff ects. The present study is aimed at investigating 35 black currant varieties developed by the Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding and included in its genetic resource collection. The study was conducted under the conditions of the Central Russian region (Orlovskaya Oblast), focusing on the antioxidant components in the berries (ascorbic acid, anthocyanins, catechins). The studied cultivars have been established as sources of biologically active compounds. A signifi cant range of variability has been noted for each component: from 81.8 mg/100 g (‘Arapka’) to 249.4 mg/100 g (‘Nadina’) for ascorbic acid; from 74.1 mg/100 g (‘Blakeston’) to 319.8 mg/100 g (‘Ershistaya’) for anthocyanins; and from 86.9 mg/100 g (‘Desertnaya Ogoltsovoy’) to 431.7 mg/100 g (‘Ekzotica’) for catechins. The coeffi cients of variation calculated for each cultivar indicate that the climatic conditions during the growing season have a greater impact on the accumulation of anthocyanins with high activity of rutin in blackcurrant berries than on ascorbic acid content. The analysis revealed varieties of crops with elevated or high levels for each indicator: 51.4 % of crops exhibit ascorbic acid content exceeding 150.0 mg/100 g; 54.3 % demonstrate anthocyanin levels above 150.0 mg/100 g; and 31.4 % contain catechins exceeding 250.0 mg/100 g. The following varieties were identifi ed as sources of antioxidant activity for breeding programs aimed at enhancing the chemical composition of crops: ‘Desertnaya Ogoltsovoy’, ‘Muravushka’, ‘Nadina’ – for ascorbic acid content (200.0 mg/100 g and above); ‘Arapka’, ‘Assol’, ‘Ershistaya’, ‘Zusha’, ‘Ladushka’, ‘Nadina’, ‘Nyura’, ‘Yubiley Orla’ – for anthocyanin content (over 200.0 mg/100 g); ‘Ariadna’, ‘Assol’, ‘Ershistaya’, ‘Zusha’, ‘Kipiana’, ‘Muravushka’, ‘Nadina’, ‘Nyura’, ‘Orlovia’, ‘Ekzotica’, and ‘Yubiley Orla’ – for catechin content (over 250.0 mg/100 g); ‘Zusha’, ‘Kipiana’, ‘Ladushka’, ‘Muravushka’, ‘Nadina’, ‘Chudnoye Mgnovenie’, and ‘Ekzotica’ – for biochemical traits.