A cherry on top – but which one? Use of physicochemical coupled to multivariate analysis for the distinction of fourteen sweet cherry cultivars in Croatia.

Outstanding organoleptic characteristics make sweet cherries one of the most popular seasonal fruits, as it has numerous health benefits making it an increasingly important part of the human diet. This study was conducted to evaluate various physicochemical properties of nine introduced and five local sweet cherry cultivars. Rana Stonska had the lowest measured content of phenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, Bigarreau Burlat had the highest amount of phenols and flavonoids, and Garnet the highest measured anthocyanins content. Potassium content was lowest for Sunburst and highest for Rana Stonska. PCA analysis allowed the discrimination of two quite different cultivars in relation to all assessed, Ranka and Isabella, since Ranka ranked the lowest in terms of fruit weight, thickness, volume, geometric mean diameter, and surface area of the fruit. Isabella cultivar stood on the opposite end of the range, ranking the highest in all data categories. Novelty impact statement: Determination of physicochemical properties of cherry fruit cultivars in certain agro‐ecological conditions is of utmost importance in assessing its potential for various applications, such as cherry growing or the food processing industry. Our research has also shown that cherries can be an excellent source of antioxidants, bioactive molecules and mineral content, especially potassium, which has significant health benefits. According to the obtained results, better antioxidant properties were proven in cultivars with a higher amount of total phenols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]