The study of polyphenolic profiles of Prunus spinosa and their spontaneous hybrids in relation to fruit polyphenols accumulation in conditions of Slovakia

Abstract

In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to underutilized fruit species, including blackthorn (Prunus spinosa L.). In Slovakia, spontaneous hybrids such as P. × dominii, P. × fruticans, and P. × fechtnerii have also been identified, though they have been studied primarily in terms of ploidy and genome size. The aim of this study was to examine and compare fruit variability in terms of anatomy, localization of bioactive compounds, polyphenol content, and antioxidant activity in P. spinosa and its spontaneous hybrids. The results demonstrated that differences in fruit anatomy, polyphenolic profiles, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant activity among hybrids can be attributed to spontaneous hybridization with cultivated Prunus species.