Variability in the sugar and organic acid composition of the fruit of 57 genotypes of Chinese dwarf cherry [Cerasus humilis (Bge.) Sok]

Four soluble sugars (sucrose, glucose, fructose, and sorbitol) and five organic acids (malic, succinic, tartaric, citric, and oxalic) were studied in the fruit of 57 genotypes of Chinese dwarf cherry [Cerasus humilis (Bge.) Sok.]. The results indicated that Chinese dwarf cherry fruit was a rich source of sugars and organic acids, especially sucrose, with the highest concentration being 39.64 mg g(-1) FW in genotype II D-6, and malic acid, with the highest concentration being 23.21 mg g(-1) FW in genotype III B-13. The coefficients of variation based on genotype were > 40% for sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, and succinic acid concentrations, and approx. 20 - 40% for malic, tartaric, citric, and oxalic acid concentrations. Cluster analysis indicated that there were large differences between the different germplasm resources, as well as between genotypes of the same germplasm resource. Our results suggest that Chinese dwarf cherry offers a rich genetic diversity based on the soluble sugar and organic acid composition of its fruit.