The study of polyphenolic spectrum of Prunus spinosa and their spontaneous hybrids in relation to fruit polyphenols accumulation in conditions of Slovakia

Nowadays, more and more attention has been focused on underutilized fruit species, including blackthorn ( Prunus spinosa L.) fruit. In the territory of Slovakia, spontaneous hybrids such as P. ×dominii , P. ×fruticans , and P. ×fechtnerii have also occurred, studied only in respect of ploidy and genome size. The aim of the presented paper was to examine and compare the fruit variability in anatomy, localization of bioactive substances, and the content of polyphenols and antioxidant activity of P. spinosa fruit, including its spontaneous hybrids. The results of the research proved that variability in fruit anatomy and differences in the polyphenolic spectrum, TPC content, and antioxidant activity among hybrids can be evaluated as a result of spontaneous hybridization with cultivated species of Prunus.