Fruit Yield and Composition of Native Fruits, Partridgeberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) and Bakeapple (Rubus chamaemorus L.)

Abstract

Plant growth, fruit yield and composition of nutritional constituents of bakeapple and partridgeberry were monitored and analyzed over 2011 and 2012 growing seasons. Data were collected from three locations on different latitudes at Lanse’au Clair, Red Bay and Cartwright in southern Labrador. Soluble solids content, titratable acidity, total phenolics, total anthocyanins, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, quercetin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside and ellagic acid (bakeapple only) were determined by using standard laboratory procedures. The fruit yields were higher than in Finland, Norway and USA. Temperature, precipitation and other environmental factors can affect growth and composition of harvested fruits. Soluble solids content, titratable acidity, anthocyanin, chlorogenic acid and cyanidin in partridgeberry and phenolic compounds and anthocyanins of bakeapple were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the combination of growing season and location. To our knowledge this is the first comprehensive study of plant growth, yield, and fruit composition of partridgeberry and bakeapple conducted in southern Labrador.