Plant and Soil Science

Quality indicators of introduced strawberry varieties (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) grown in the Polissya region of Ukraine

Liudmyla Shevchuk, Svitlana Babenko, Iana Tereshchenko, Veronika Kucheruk
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Abstract

Strawberries are among the earliest fruits of the season and represent a valuable dietary product due to their high content of nutrients and bioactive compounds. New strawberry varieties are added to the assortment each year and require systematic evaluation, particularly in relation to their adaptability to specific growing conditions. This study examined the suitability of introduced garden strawberry varieties for cultivation under the conditions of the Polissya region of Ukraine. Yield and average berry weight were determined by gravimetric methods, while sugar content and polyphenolic compounds were assessed using spectrophotometry. Titratable acidity and vitamin C content were determined by titration. The obtained data were analysed statistically using the STATISTICA software package and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results indicate that the varieties ‘Sensation’ and ‘Symphony’ exhibit the highest yields. These varieties also show the greatest average fruit weight, exceeding 30.0 g, whereas ‘Clery’ records the lowest values. The analysed fruits show a dry matter content of 11.1% and a soluble solids content of 8.5%. The ‘Clery’ and ‘Jolly’ varieties accumulated significantly higher sugar levels than the other studied varieties, while ‘Elsanta’, ‘Asia’, and ‘Malvina’ demonstrate lower sugar accumulation. The favourable sensory properties of the ‘Clery’ variety, reflected by a sugar-acid index of 8.4, were associated with its high sugar content and low titratable acidity of 0.91%. The concentration of bioactive compounds in the studied fruits ranges from 31.0 to 68.3 mg of vitamin C per 100 g and from 150.0 to 307.3 mg of polyphenolic compounds per 100 g of fresh weight. The ‘Sensation’ variety was distinguished by a high phytochemical content, with a vitamin C concentration of 51 mg/100 g. The findings are of practical relevance for breeders selecting parental material for the development of new varieties and for producers choosing cultivars for the establishment of industrial plantations in the Polissya region of Ukraine

Keywords

fruits; yield; sugars; vitamin C; polyphenolic substances

Suggested citation
Shevchuk, L., Babenko, S., Tereshchenko, Ia., & Kucheruk, V. (2026). Quality indicators of introduced strawberry varieties (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) grown in the Polissya region of Ukraine. Plant and Soil Science, 17(1), 20-30. https://doi.org/10.31548/plant1.2026.20
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