Production, nutritional and anti-oxidative properties of currant cultivars (Ribes cv.)

Currant (Ribes sp.) is a very important berry fruit species ranking the second, after strawberry, for its commercial production on a world scale. In Serbia, currant is unjustifiably neglected fruit species because Serbia has very favorable agro-climate conditions for its successful growing and market demands for this fruit are persistent. Sporadic cultivation on small size areas or individual holdings, resulting in low yields and poor quality fruit, does not meet the demands of domestic market. Therefore, the production of this high-profitable fruit species must be intensified, which is possible to achieve not only by planting orchards based on modern technology of fruit growing principles but also by introducing new varieties of high quality fruits. Currant cultivars, especially representatives of black currant, demonstrate potent anti-oxidative, antiinflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-cancer activities due to the presence of phenolic compounds and vitamins in their fruits. Taking into account currant fruit species’ outstanding nutritional and medicinal properties as well as excellent production characteristics, the aim of investigations was to examine newly introduced cultivars of black, red and white currant and establish the suitability for their larger-scale cultivation in agro-ecological conditions of Serbia. The obtained results will be used to choose the cultivars with best properties to be recommended for exploitation in more intensive growing orchards covering larger production areas. Investigations predominantly focused on currant fruit biochemical properties and juices, and fatty oils quality from seeds of various cultivars was determined via essential fatty acids contents. Due to steady consumption needs for this fruit, analysis involved the effects of technological treatments (freezing and processing) on the contents and activities of polyphenolic components in them. Investigations were carried out in a currant collection orchard, the property of the “Omega” nursery (Mislodjin village, Obrenovacka Posavina), in the period 2007- 2009. The experimental orchard was planted in 2006, using the hedge system (a bush form), at 1.8 m of inter-row and 0.8 m intra-row spacing. Investigations comprised 29 currant cultivars (13 black currant cultivars, 11 red currant cultivars and 5 white currant cultivars). Laboratory analyses were performed at the Chair of Fruit Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Belgrade University, and at the Institute for Medicinal P