Documenting Greek Indigenous Germplasm of Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas L.) for Sustainable Utilization: Molecular Authentication, Asexual Propagation, and Phytochemical Evaluation

Eleftherios Karapatzak; Nikos Krigas; Ioannis Ganopoulos; Katerina Papanastasi; Dimitris Kyrkas; Paraskevi Yfanti; Nikos Nikisianis; Antonis Karydas; Ioannis Manthos; Ioanna S Kosma; Anastasia V Badeka; Dimitrios Fotakis; Eleni Maloupa; Giorgos Patakioutas

doi:10.3390/plants11101345

Documenting Greek Indigenous Germplasm of Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas L.) for Sustainable Utilization: Molecular Authentication, Asexual Propagation, and Phytochemical Evaluation

Plants (Basel). 2022 May 19;11(10):1345. doi: 10.3390/plants11101345.

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Dimitra, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece.
² Department of Agriculture, University of Ioannina, 47100 Arta, Greece.
³ Systada General Partnership, 55133 Thessaloniki, Greece.
⁴ Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
⁵ Forest Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Dimitra, 57006 Thessaloniki, Greece.

Abstract

Wild-growing Cornelian cherries (Cornus mas L., Cornaceae) are well-known native fruits in Greece since ancient times that are still consumed locally nowadays. Modern research has highlighted the value of Cornelian cherries as functional food with exceptional health benefits on account of the fruits’ biochemical profile. However, apart from local consumption directly from wild growing individuals, Greek native C. mas populations have not yet been investigated or sustainably utilized. A multifaceted evaluation was conducted herein including authorized collection-documentation, taxonomic identification, and molecular authentication (DNA barcoding), asexual propagation via cuttings and phytochemical evaluation (multiple antioxidant profiling) of neglected and underutilized Greek native C. mas germplasm sources. Successive botanical expeditions resulted in the collection of 18 samples of genotypes from distant C. mas populations across different natural habitats in Greece, most of which were DNA fingerprinted for the first time. Asexual propagation trials revealed high variability in rooting frequencies among Greek genotypes with low (<25%), average (25−50%), and adequate propagation potential (>50%) using external indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) hormone application on soft- or hard-wood cuttings. The comparative phytochemical evaluation of the studied Greek genotypes showed significant potential in terms of antioxidant activity (>80% radical scavenging activity in 13 genotypes), but with variable phenolic content (47.58−355.46 mg GAE/100 g), flavonoid content (0.15−0.86 mg CE/100 g), and vitamin C content (1−59 mg AAE/100 g). The collected material is currently maintained under ex situ conservation for long-term monitoring coupled with ongoing pilot cultivation trials. The pivotal data create for the first time a framework for the sustainable utilization of Greek native C. mas germplasm as a superfood with significant agronomic potential.

Keywords: DNA barcoding; forest berries; genotype selection; multifaceted evaluation; neglected and underutilized plants; nutraceutical potential; phytogenetic resources; protocols.

Grants and funding

T1EDK-05434/RESEARCH-CREATE-INNOVATE