Main Agro-Morphological and Biochemical Berry Characteristics of Wild-Grown Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L. ssp. caucasica Rousi) Genotypes in Turkey

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L. ssp. caucasica Rousi) is one of the most important wild edible fruits, grown in Turkey for centuries without any chemical treatments. The plant extremely resistant to adverse environmental conditions. In this study, main agro-morphological and biochemical berry traits and, a lesser extent, other morphological 10 sea genotypes sampled from eastern Anatolia (Sivas province) region were assessed. Among genotypes, five them presented shrub growth habit, whereas tree with leaf area ranging 2.56 4.22 cm2. majority had an oblong shape variable skin color dark orange orange, light yellow. weight 100 berries varied 13.85 23.87 g, while juice yield vitamin C content was found be 44.87–57.15% 37.45–62.85 mg/100 g fresh base, respectively. Soluble solid (SSC) range 12.56–14.67%. exhibited great variability total anthocyanin (from 9.1 38.7 mg/L), relatively dark-orange containing more than light-orange, yellow berries. Linoleic acid fatty detected pulp berries, 24.11% 36.37%, depending on genotype. Investigated proved also rich phenolic content, showing at same time trait. results obtained limited number show promising further valorization both horticultural nutritional traits, suggesting potentially even higher variability, if are going considered future.