Genotypic diversity of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of Chinese dwarf cherry (Cerasus humilis (Bge.) Sok.) in China

• A large genotypic diversity was observed in most of the assessed quality parameters, which were also significantly affected by growth locations.
• Nutritional properties, phenolic compound contents, and antioxidant activity of Chinese dwarf cherry were higher in genotypes obtained from Shangyi County of Hebei Province than those obtained from Changping District of Beijing.
• There was great potential for biodiversity, nutritive and health care research in the investigated Chinese dwarf cherry species.

Nutritional properties, phenolic compound contents, and antioxidant activity of Chinese dwarf cherry (Cerasus humilis (Bge.) Sok.) were investigated in 13 genotypes from Changping District of Beijing (CPBJ). In addition, four common genotypes grown in Shangyi County of Hebei Province (SYHB) were also studied to illustrate the plasticity of a given genotype in response to growth locations. A large genotypic diversity was observed in most of the assessed quality parameters and these quality parameters were also significantly affected by growth locations. Ascorbic acid value varied from 16.3 to 83.2 mg 100 g−1 FW in CPBJ, and from 83.4 to 84.8 mg 100 g−1 FW in SYHB. The highest amounts of soluble solid content (19.7%), total titratable acid (1.81%), total phenols (1899 mg 100 g−1 FW), total flavonoid (1861 mg 100 g−1 FW), procyanidin (1082 mg 100 g−1 FW), and total anthocyanin (39.3 mg 100 g−1 FW) were observed in fruits grown in SYHB. For the same genotypes, these chemical attributes were higher in fruits produced in SYHB than in CPBJ, due to consequence of the different environmental stimuli such as long days, cool night temperatures and more ultraviolet rays. High positive correlations were observed between phenolic compound contents and antioxidant activity. The results indicated that there was great future potential in biodiversity, nutritive and health care research in the investigated Chinese dwarf cherry species.