Physical Parameters, Total Phenolics, Flavonoids and Vitamin C Content of Nine Sweet Cherry Cultivars

Sweet cherry tree (Prunus avium L., Rosaceae) is a species with high economic efficiency in production and in the last twenty years the scientific interest increased in the North-East region of Romania. In the area of Ia�i in 2014 the combined influence of the fruits position on tree level in different cultivars was recorded in terms of morphological and biochemical characteristics for nine different cultivars ex situ collected. Fruits collected from two different height-levels areas of tree were used for analysis in each cultivar. Fruit pulp and kernel were investigated in terms of biometry, total solids content, vitamin C, total flavonoids (flavones), and polyphenols. Fruit mass and diameter showed higher values in samples collected from the upper side of the tree on Catalina, Scorospelka, Van and Bucium�cultivars, ranging between 5.8 g / fruit to 9.5 g / fruit and 20.6 to 26.3 mm / fruit respectively. Kernel mass was higher on upper side of the tree on Catalina and Marina cultivars, while on Scorospelka, Van, Bucium and Stefan the values were greater on down half of the tree but without statistical signification. Total solids content of the fruit recorded values between 13.7 to 21.15%, the highest values being recorded in fruits sampled from the upper half of the tree on Catalina, Rivan�, Bucium, Stefan, Galata and Marina cultivars. Total flavonoids content recorded values ranging from 2.45 to 4.84 mg catechin g-1 DW, with increased values for samples collected from the upper part of the tree. Vitamin C content shows values ranging from 1.98 to 8.62 ascorbic acid 100 g-1 DW, the greater value being recorded for Stefan�cultivar from the upper side of the tree.