Pomological and biochemical characterization of European currant berry (Ribes sp.) cultivars

Descriptive and multivariate statistic analysis was used to determine phenotypical diversity among 29 European currant cultivars. Variation in 39 traits related to phenology, vegetative and reproductive potential, fruit quality, content of antioxidants in berries, and oils in seeds indicated a high diversity of currant cultivars. PCA analysis showed high discrimination capabilities of variables measured. The most important traits for cultivars grouping were related to yield efficiency, fruit quality, and content of bioactive compounds. These traits should be taken into account in the further currant cultivars characterization and analysis of breeding material. Both, cluster (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA), showed an adequate grouping of cultivars in two groups of cultivars, one consisting of black and the second group comprising the red and white currant cultivars. By PCA, within each of these two major groups dispersed layout of cultivars was obtained, while using CA a larger number of sub-clusters was separated indicating phenotypic and thus genotypic heterogeneity of studied cultivars. Great diversity in this currant collection showed its good potential for fresh and processing usage, and further breeding programs.