Yield Performance and Physicochemical Properties of Selected Honey Berry ( Lonicera caerulea L. var. kamtschatica Sevast.), Under Central Polish Conditions

Ewa Szpadzik (), Julia Trzcińska, Karolina Molska-Kawulok, Łukasz Seliga and Stanisław Pluta
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Ewa Szpadzik: Department of Pomology and Horticulture Economics, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW-WULS), 159C Nowoursynowska Street, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Julia Trzcińska: Department of Horticultural Crop Breeding, National Institute of Horticultural Research (InHort), Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3 St., 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland
Karolina Molska-Kawulok: Department of Pomology and Horticulture Economics, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW-WULS), 159C Nowoursynowska Street, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Łukasz Seliga: Department of Horticultural Crop Breeding, National Institute of Horticultural Research (InHort), Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3 St., 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland
Stanisław Pluta: Department of Horticultural Crop Breeding, National Institute of Horticultural Research (InHort), Konstytucji 3 Maja 1/3 St., 96-100 Skierniewice, Poland

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 21, 1-18

Abstract: Until recently, the blue honeysuckle ( Lonicera caerulea L. var. kamtschatica Sevast.) was considered a niche species, but Poland is now one of the largest producers of this fruit in the world. The purpose of this study was to assess the yield, quality of the fruits, and the health promotion value of the fruits of selected honey berry cultivars grown under the conditions of central Poland. Six cultivars (‘Morena’, ‘Vostorg’, ‘Honeybee’, ‘Wojtek’, ‘Boreal Beast’, and ‘Boreal Beauty’) were evaluated for yield and physical fruit characteristics: average fruit weight (g), dry matter content (%), fruit shape, fruit colour (CIE lab), firmness (N), soluble solid content (°Brix), pH, titratable acidity (% citric acid), as well as biologically active compounds including polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, vitamin C, and antioxidant activity (DPPH+). The studies also determined the degree of correlation between different variables using Pearson’s linear correlation coefficients. The highest yields were obtained for the ‘Wojtek’ and ‘Boreal Beauty’ cultivars, while in terms of health-promoting properties, the ‘Morena’ cultivar stood out, characterised by the darkest fruit colour, the highest content of polyphenols, anthocyanins, vitamin C, and the highest antioxidant activity. The correlation analysis showed relationships between the vitamin C content, antioxidant activity, and fruit colour and the accumulation of bioactive compounds. The differences observed among the cultivars tested indicated their different potential for use in the fresh consumption, food processing, and pharmaceutical industries.

Keywords: honey berry; yield; fruit quality; antioxidant activity; health-promoting value (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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