Biomorphological characteristics of natural forms of Malus sieversii in cenopopulations of the Dzungarian Alatau (Republic of Kazakhstan)

For thousands of years the origin of modern cultivars of apple (Malus × domestica) is genetically related to Malussieversii (Ledeb.) M. Roem., which grows in temperate forests of Central Asia. The study of the quantitative content of polyphenols in Malus sieversii is a pressing issue of the selection due to their higher content in red-fruit apple trees. This study presents the main pomological characteristics of Malus sieversii fruits from coenopopulation of the Dzungarian Alatau of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the analysis of leukoanthocyanin content and R-active substance in the fruits. The content of leukoanthocyanins in the fruits is from 180 to 1325 mg/100 g, R-active substances – from 380 to 1770 mg/100 g. The highest concentration of leukoanthocyanins and R-active substances in the fruits is indicated for cenopopulations of Malus sieversii from the Mushabai Gorge. During the cluster analysis of flavonoid content, the geographical determinacy of this value and its high correlation with the average weight of fruits were revealed. The Malus sieversii forms from the Mushabai Gorge in the Dzungarian Alatau have the greatest potential for morphological, organoleptic and biochemical characteristics for further selection.