Abstract

Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) is a relatively underutilized orchard species that is well suited for organic cultivation. Due to the health-promoting properties of its fruit, cornelian cherry attracts increasing interest from both consumers and the processing industry. The fruit has a wide range of applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. This study analyzed the impact of weather conditions in northeastern Poland on the yield and physical properties of the fruits and seeds of 22 of cornelian cherry biotypes. The fruit of the new Polish biotypes differed in harvest time, yield, and morphological traits. These characteristics were influenced by regional weather conditions, including temperature and precipitation. The results confirm that temperatures in April, August, and September, as well as precipitation in September, negatively affected the yield of the evaluated cornelian cherry biotypes. Mean annual temperature was significantly positively correlated with seed weight, length, and width. These biotypes provide a strong foundation for developing new cultivars that are adapted to northeastern Poland and other regions with a similar climate. The fruits of these biotypes may be used to develop innovative food products and may have potential applications in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

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