Pomological, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity of selected superior genotypes from a highly diversified loquat population

The study’s main objective was to assess the fruit characteristics, total phenolics, total flavonoids, individual phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity of superior loquat genotypes, which were selected from the coastal area of the Black Sea in 2020 and 2021. The highest seed weight, seed volume, and fruit skin color were obtained in GN 10; fruit weight, shape index, fruit volume, fruit pulp/seed ratio, and flesh weight observed in GN 14; fruit stalk length, calyx core diameter, taste, and juiciness were found in the GN 50; fruit width, fruit length, fruit stalk thickness, seed number, fruit number in cluster, and fruit cluster weight were determined in GN 69. Leaf area varied from 147.59 to 312.92 cm2 the highest in GN 50 and lowest in GN 10. Total phenolics, total flavonoids, antioxidant activities, and all individual phenolic compounds were observed to have a statistically significant effect among superior genotypes. Total phenolics ranged between 137.69 and 297.83 mg GAE kg−1, total flavonoids recorded 109.00–232.15 mg QE kg−1, and antioxidant activities ranged between 1.52 and 2.73 mmol TE kg−1 in the case of DPPH and 4.39–10.28 mmol TE kg−1 in case of FRAP. Chlorogenic acid and aminobenzoic acid were the major phenolic compounds in the genotypes. In conclusion, the examined characteristics revealed that GN 69 and GN 14 are ideal in pomological characteristics, GN 10 in antioxidant activities, and GN 69 and GN 10 in the contents of individual phenolics. So, the superior genotypes based on their ideal performances could be used in future breeding.