A Multifaceted Evaluation Approach for Greek Native Neglected and Underutilized Forest Fruit Trees and Shrubs as Natural Sources of Antioxidants: Consolidating the Framework for Their Sustainable Agronomic Exploitation

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

doi:10.3390/plants12081642

A Multifaceted Evaluation Approach for Greek Native Neglected and Underutilized Forest Fruit Trees and Shrubs as Natural Sources of Antioxidants: Consolidating the Framework for Their Sustainable Agronomic Exploitation

Plants (Basel). 2023 Apr 13;12(8):1642. doi: 10.3390/plants12081642.

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece.
² Laboratory of Food Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece.
³ Department of Agriculture, School of Agriculture, University of Ioannina (UOI), 47100 Kostakii Arta, Greece.
⁴ Systems of Forest and Environmental Development (SYSTADA), 8 Amasia Str., 55133 Thessaloniki, Greece.

Abstract

Fruits from wild forest trees and shrubs represent a natural source of antioxidants against oxidative stress and a growing market for novel minor crops. This study presents a multifaceted approach which sets the basis for sustainable agronomic exploitation of selected Greek native germplasm of four traditional but neglected and underutilized forest fruit trees and shrubs, namely Amelanchier ovalis Medik., Cornus mas L., Rosa canina L., and Sambucus nigra L. The studied plant species are traditionally used in Greek ethnobotany but are currently neglected and underutilized in commercial terms, thus characterized as neglected and underutilized plant species (NUPs). The investigation includes new information on the evaluation of the ex situ cultivation of the Greek germplasm (three of the four focal NUPs), thus supplementing respective full datasets for their comparative evaluation based on four evaluation axes (documentation and molecular authentication of genotypes, phytochemical evaluation, asexual propagation via rooting of cuttings, and ex situ cultivation) after multi-year and multifaceted groundwork data previously acquired. Consecutively, the work includes feasibility and readiness timescale evaluation for the sustainable exploitation of each focal species based on existing literature and extant research experience. The feasibility for sustainable exploitation and readiness timescale evaluation results were very encouraging, showing high exploitation feasibility with an already achieved readiness timescale for R. canina and S. nigra, whereas C. mas and A. ovalis showed an achievable readiness in the short term. The comparative evaluation of the Greek native focal NUPs outlined the excellent potential of R. canina, S. nigra, and A. ovalis, and the high potential of C. mas. The results herein illustrate the very high fruit antioxidant potential (free radical scavenging activity) of all focal species, the diverse but effective asexual propagation capacity via cuttings at the species level, and summarize the results of a pilot cultivation trial set up in 2020 (still ongoing) outlining tree growth rates and the onset of fruit production among genotypes and species. Overall, the meta-analysis of previously published data in conjunction with new data generated herein may serve the sustainable exploitation of the studied NUPs.

Keywords: antioxidant capacity; ex situ cultivation; forest germplasm; free radical scavenging capacity; native plants; natural compounds; neglected and underutilized species; small fruits.

Grants and funding

This research has been co-financed during the period 2018–2022 by the European Union and Greek national funds through the Operational Program Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation, under the project RE-SEARCH—CREATE—INNOVATE entitled “Highlighting of local traditional and native wild fruit trees and shrubs” (grant number: T1EDK-05434).