title: Chemical composition of ripe fruits of Rubus chamaemorus L. grown in different habitats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus L.) is one of the most valuable berry-producing plants because of its nutritional properties. The chemical composition and crop yield of ripe fruits of cloudberry grown wild in 10 habitats in northern Finland was analysed over two consecutive summers. For comparison, two clones of cultivated cloudberries were studied as well.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concentrations of citric and malic acids, α-tocopherol, anthocyanins and β-carotene had notable variations between habitats. In particularly, cloudberries grown on open habitats had higher content of citric acid and less α-tocopherol compared to those grown on shaded sites. In a colder and rainy summer the content of anthocyanins and the unsaturation level of fatty acids were significantly higher than in a warmer and drier summer. Crop yields were higher in the warmer summer, except in open sites where yields were quite equal.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cloudberries grown in open habitats showed notable differences in chemical composition when compared to those grown on shaded sites. Results suggest that the amount of sunlight and temperature levels could be the main factors affecting crop yield and chemical composition of cloudberry. In addition, the amount of rainfall may have an effect on anthocyanin concentrations.
authors.affiliation: University of Oulu, Kajaani University Consortium, CEMIS-Oulu, FI-88600 Sotkamo, Finland. mari.jaakkola@oulu.fi
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jaakkola
authors.forename: Ville
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Korpelainen
authors.forename: Kalle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoppula
authors.forename: Vesa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Virtanen
mesh_terms: D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000378:metabolism; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D018533:Biomass; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism; D005387:Finland; D005638:Fruit / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D008293:Malates / Q000378:metabolism*; D011891:Rain; D027824:Rosaceae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D012621:Seasons; D013472:Sunlight; D013696:Temperature; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000378:metabolism; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000872:Anthocyanins; D000975:Antioxidants; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D008293:Malates; D019207:beta Carotene; D019343:Citric Acid; C030298:malic acid; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol