<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Barberry (<italic>Berberis vulgaris</italic> L.) fruit is an important source of anthocyanins and is used for consumption and in medicine. However, fruit production of barberry is not regular. Two experiments in four locations were conducted on this plant to explore if it is alternate bearer and also to investigate carbohydrates and phenolics contents in leaves and shoots during growth season. Evaluation of barberry shrubs in three different location showed strong alternate bearing. The value of leaf number to berry number ratio was small. A correlation was found between tree age and alternate bearing index (ABI), because elder shrubs exhibited more ABI. Total carbohydrates and phenolics contents in vegetative organs showed an increase during the fruit setting stage, except for the carbohydrates in shoots. The highest value of carbohydrates was observed 10 days after leaf appearance and then decrease. ON bearing shrubs showed the highest value of total carbohydrates content in leaves during fruit setting stage, after which it decreased. However, OFF bearing shrubs indicated a reducing trend in this variable. In both bearing statuses (ON and OFF trees), total carbohydrates decreased with season progression. It is concluded that this plant is strongly alternate bearer and this characteristic may be related to carbohydrates and phenolics changes in leaf and shoot organs.</p></abstract>

Barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.) fruit is an important source of anthocyanins and is used for consumption and in medicine. However, fruit production of barberry is not regular. Two experiments in four locations were conducted on this plant to explore if it is alternate bearer and also to investigate carbohydrates and phenolics contents in leaves and shoots during growth season. Evaluation of barberry shrubs in three different location showed strong alternate bearing. The value of leaf number to berry number ratio was small. A correlation was found between tree age and alternate bearing index (ABI), because elder shrubs exhibited more ABI. Total carbohydrates and phenolics contents in vegetative organs showed an increase during the fruit setting stage, except for the carbohydrates in shoots. The highest value of carbohydrates was observed 10 days after leaf appearance and then decrease. ON bearing shrubs showed the highest value of total carbohydrates content in leaves during fruit setting stage, after which it decreased. However, OFF bearing shrubs indicated a reducing trend in this variable. In both bearing statuses (ON and OFF trees), total carbohydrates decreased with season progression. It is concluded that this plant is strongly alternate bearer and this characteristic may be related to carbohydrates and phenolics changes in leaf and shoot organs.

The First Report on Alternate Bearing of Barberry (<italic>B<sc>erberis vulgaris</sc></italic> L.): Change in Total Carbohydrate and Phenolic Contents

Journal of Horticultural Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

The First Report on Alternate Bearing of Barberry ( L.): Change in Total Carbohydrate and Phenolic Contents

Barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.) fruit is an important source of anthocyanins and is used for consumption and in medicine. However, fruit production of barberry...

The First Report on Alternate Bearing of Barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.): Change in Total Carbohydrate and Phenolic Contents

Published Online: Jun 29, 2018

Page range: 45 - 52

Received: Dec 01, 2017

Accepted: May 01, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/johr-2018-0005

Keywords
alternate bearing index, biennial bearing, post ripening foliation period

© 2018 Mehdi Khayyat et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

The First Report on Alternate Bearing of Barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.): Change in Total Carbohydrate and Phenolic Contents

Published Online: Jun 29, 2018

Page range: 45 - 52

Received: Dec 01, 2017

Accepted: May 01, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/johr-2018-0005

Keywordsalternate bearing index, biennial bearing, post ripening foliation period

© 2018 Mehdi Khayyat et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
alternate bearing index, biennial bearing, post ripening foliation period