Evaluation of phytochemical and morphological diversity the fruit of some Elaeagnus angustifolia L. ˊAnabiˊ genotypes in Urmia, Iran

Elderberry (Elaeagnus angustifolia ˊAnabiˊ) from the Elaeagnaceae family is an essential medicinal plant in Iran. Considering that E. angustifolia has not been given serious attention in Urmia County, Iran for its cultivation, exploitation, and use in the food and pharmaceutical industries of the country. Also, due to its unknown medicinal value in this region, the study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical, antioxidant, and morphological diversity of genotypes in the Urmia region, Iran.  

 In this study, ten genotypes of Elaeagnus angustifolia ˊAnabiˊ were evaluated to investigate the diversity among genotypes based on fruit length, fruit weight, total phenol, flavonoid, ascorbic acid content, and antioxidant activity. The color of the fruit was measured by Hunter Lab device. Total phenol, flavonoid, and ascorbic acid contents were measured using Folin–Ciocalteu, aluminum chloride, and 2,6-Dichlorophenol-indophenol. The antioxidant activity was measured using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Cluster analysis (Ward method) and Pearson correlation were made using morphological and phytochemical traits. 

The results of this research showed significant differences between genotypes regarding morphological traits such as fruit weight. The maximum value of the fruit length, with a value of 22.43 mm, was related to G2. The highest fruit weight, with a value of 3.18 g, was related to G5. Fruit weight had the most significant effect on fruit yield. Color is one of the most important morphological characteristics of the fruit. In measuring fruit color, the highest amount of L* with a value of 39.6 was related to G2, the highest amount of a* with a value of 24.7, was related to G7, and the highest amount of b* with a value of 19.2 was related to G2. The highest amount of Chroma, with a value of 27.94, was observed in G10. The highest amount of Hue, with a rate of 55.63, was related to G2. The highest amount of total phenol, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid content was observed with 33.58 mg GAE/100 g FW in genotype 10 (G10), 21.11 mg QUE/100 g FW in genotype 10 (G10) and 42.5 mg AA/g FW in genotype 1 (G1), respectively. Also, the antioxidant capacity using DPPH varied between 21.11% and 33.81%. Cluster analysis using morphological and phytochemical data splinted genotypes into two groups. The genotypes of the first group (G1, G6, G7, G8, G9, and G10) had the highest mean values of phenol, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant activity. Correlation results among phytochemical properties showed that antioxidant activity positively and significantly correlated with total phenol, flavonoid and ascorbic acid content.

In general, this research showed that different genotypes, especially genotypes available in cluster one, had significantly higher amounts of antioxidant capacity and phenolic compounds that can be used in the food and drug industry. According to the results, the genotype (G10) was suggested as the best genotype among the genotypes of group one.