Fefelov V.A., Smirnova N.G., Nizhny Novgorod State Agricultural Academy, Russia

Biochemical indexes of sea buckthorn fruits depends on a number of factors the main of which are zone of growing, varietal peculiarities, meteorological conditions and agrotechnical level.

Samples from Middle Asia (South Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Tajikistan) had big quantity of vitamin C in their fruits (=151.0 mg%); in Caucasian populations predominated plants with low vitamin C content (=21.5 mg%). In more severe conditions of East Siberia (Buryatia, Tuva, Irkutsk region) there are population samples of which contain 1.5-2 times more ascorbic acid comparing with forms from Western Siberia (Altay, Novosibirsk region).

In our opinion significant accumulation of the vitamin in fruits and probably in other parts of sea buckthorn is connected with protective function of ascorbic acid appeared under the intensive solar and ultraviolet radiation (in Middle Asia), low negative temperature (in Siberia). This feature is genetically fixed and keeps under introduction that must be taken into account in breeding.

Fruits of one variety growing in different ecological conditions contain unequal quantity of bioactive substances: in regions with high insolation (Caucasus, Middle Asia, Altay) there are more sugar and fat accumulated in fruits than in northern, north-western regions and in Middle Russia. There is no observed correlation between content of vitamin C, carotenoids and zone of growing. Weather conditions of a season influenced more on ascorbic acid synthesis; soil condition and agrotechnical level determine content of carotenoids.

There are varieties selected on high and stable content of bioactive substances. Of vitamin C (=165 mg%, V=5%) – Maria, of soluble dry substances (=14.0%, V=7%), carotenoids (=25.2 mg%, V=11%) and fat (=4.5%, V=17%) – Nadezhda.