Some selected physico-chemical characteristics of wild and cultivated blackberry fruits (Rubus fruticosus L.) from Turkey

In this study, some selected physico-chemical properties such as fruit weight, fruit length, fruit width, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity, TSS/acidity ratio, pH, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging capacity of 9 cultivated and 16 selected wild blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.) genotypes grown in Turkey were investigated. The total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and free radical-scavenging capacity of blackberry cultivars and genotypes were determined by using Folin-Ciocalteu, beta-carotene bleaching and DPPH radical assays. The results showed that, average fruit weight and fruit dimensions were higher in cultivated blackberries than wild materials. However, TSS, acidity and pH values were higher in wild materials. The total phenolic contents of blackberry cultivars and wild genotypes were in a range of 584 (cv. Bartin) to 788 (cv. Chester) mg/100 g and 610 (Genotypr R2) to 1455 mg/100 g (Genotype R16), expressed as gallic acid equivalents (GAE), on afresh weight basis. Antioxidant activity of cultivated and wild growing blackberry fruits was found between 72.15 (cv. Arapaho)-89.75% (cv. Bursa 3) and 59.85 (R1)-87.42% (R10), respectively. The antioxidant activity of standard BHA was 85.07%. Different cultivars grown in same location consistently showed differences in antioxidant capacity. The results of this study outlines that the blackberry fruits tested are good sources of natural antioxidants.