Content of biologically active substances in sweet cherry fruits at different stages of fruit development in the conditions of the living mulch

Abstract

Сontent of soluble solids, sugars, titrated acids, ascorbate, glutathione, phenolic substances, anthocyanins, total reducing activity of fruits tissues in sweet cherry fruits studied at different stages of fruit development during 2018 and 2019 in an organic sweet cherry orchard (Prunus avium L. / Prunus mahaleb) in the Southern Steppe of Ukraine. The aim of the research was to determine how the living much conditions (compared to bare fallow) affect the content of biologically active substances in sweet cherry fruits at different stages of ripening. It was determined that the fruits of sweet cherry accumulated significantly more ascorbate, phenolic substances and anthocyanins in the conditions of living mulch (compared to the fruits of the trees on bare fallow). So, at the stage of picking ripeness, the content of ascorbate in sweet cherry fruits in the conditions of living mulch was 29 and 22% more compared to bare fallow (respectively, in 2018 and 2019), phenolic substances - by 47 and 23%, anthocyanins - by 36 and 26%. The revealed regularities can be explained by stressful conditions of competition with natural herbs, which activate the synthesis of anti-stress, antioxidant biologically active substances in plant tissues (including fruits). Since it is the antioxidants of the fruits that have a physiological value for humans, it can be stated that the fruits grown in the conditions of living mulch have a higher therapeutic and preventive value than the fruits grown on bare fallow.