The physicochemical comparison of local blackberries (Rubus persicus Boiss.) fruits in eastern and western regions of Golestan province

Blackberries produce several types of phytochemicals beneficial to human health and wild blackberries are richer than cultivated ones. Climatic conditions have a great impact on plants in various ways. In this experiment, wild blackberries from two regions in the west and east of Golestan province (Bandar-e-Gaz and Minoodasht regions), in each region from two places (plain and foothills) and two different seasons of fruit ripening (late spring and late summer) were sampled and studied for morphological and phytochemical traits. The results showed that the region and place of growth and harvest season had a great impact on the morphological and phytochemical traits of wild blackberry fruit. Blackberries harvested from Bandar-e-Gaz had higher inflorescence length and width than blackberries of Minoodasht. There was a significant difference between spring and summer blackberries respecting the number of fruits per inflorescence and the number of drupelets per fruit. There was also a significant difference between spring and summer blackberries in all fruit traits, including fruit length, diameter, and weight. The fruits of Bandar-e-Gaz blackberries were more spherical (L/D 0.97) and had a higher fresh weight (1.23 g). The results also showed a significant difference between the blackberries of the two regions and between the two harvest seasons in total acidity, ascorbic acid, and pH. Spring fruits harvested in Minoodasht showed the highest amounts of acidity (5.52 mg/100mg) and total soluble solids (°Brix) and the lowest amount of pH (2.28). Blackberries harvested in Minoodasht region had more total anthocyanin (1.245 mg/100ml) but less total flavonoids (0.471 mg/100ml) and total phenols (0.36 mg/100ml) than blackberries harvested in Bandar-e-Gaz region. There was a significant difference between spring and summer fruits of both regions respecting the above-mentioned traits as well as antioxidant activity; spring fruits showed higher values ​​in most of them. It seems that the climatic conditions of the region are more suitable for the cultivation of spring blackberry cultivars and the fruits obtained from these cultivars and genotypes have higher nutritional and medicinal properties.