Industrial characteristics of Berberis L. representatives fruits
Authors: Lykholat Yu. V. , Khromykh N. O. , Lykholat T. Yu. , Nedzvetska M. I. , Lykholat O. A. , Bilyk I. V. , Bobrova O. M. 
Published: February 2020

The introduction of fruit plants into a culture enriches the diversity of the species composition of the regional flora and at the same time creates an opportunity for expansion of the plant raw material base for the needs of the food industry, inclusion in a full-fledged functional nutrition of the population. Among the fruit plants of the Dniprovsk region, every year, more attention should be paid to introduced low-frequency non-traditional fruit species, in which the fruits, leaves, stems and other parts have high nutritional value and are the source of physiologically active compounds that have anti-cancer, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, carry cardio protective, antihypertensive, anti-diabetic effects, stimulate the central nervous system, etc., and can contribute to the prevention and treatment of many diseases.   Antioxidants additives in the raw materials and finished products ensures their prevention damage, reduce losses, increase shelf life and production of high quality products which keep for a long time characteristics inherent fresh, complete products. Preservation, restoration and introduction to the culture of any species depends primarily on its ability to multiply seed and vegetative methods. A comparative analysis of the fruit and seed ability of Berberis L. representatives grown in the botanical garden of Oles Gonchar’  Dniprovsky National University was carried out. The use of integrated research methods made it possible to carry out an integrated assessment of the regenerative capacity of the investigated representatives of the Berberis L. and to establish their biological ability to seed propagation depending on the seed quality of the seeds. The seeds length varied from 4.5 mm (B. canadensis) to 5.2 mm (B. declinata, B. amurensis), width was from 1.8 mm (B. amurensis, B. vulgares) to 2.1 mm ( B. coreana). The weight of 1000 seeds, which, depending on their size and completeness, amounted to an average of 10.16 grams. Largest weight 1000 pcs. seed is marked in B. coreana. As a result of the total antioxidant ability of the fruits, the species examined can be arranged in the following order:  B. koreana > B. x declinata > B. vulgaris > B. amurensis > B. canadensis. When comparing total antioxidant capacity level of the plants, the highest indices were characteristic for B. koreana and B. x declinata fruits, which exceeded the values of other species in 1.7-1.9 times. The relatively low antioxidants concentration in B. amurensis fruits is offset by a greater weight of the fruits of this species.  In order to enrich the range of ornamental and fruit plants, it is expedient to introduce into production of new crops and to expand the species diversity of Berberis L. representatives. Barberry reproduction process depends on many factors related to the environment. All investigated representatives of the Berberis L. are promising for further use in the planting system and as fruit plants that can be included in the functional nutrition of the population and use in the food industry in the conditions of the Steppe Prydniprovya.