Assessment of the sea buckthorn growing in urban conditions – the quality of berries and leaves

The sea buckthorn is a plant valued for its berries, used by people and eaten by animals. It is grown in urban areas as an ornamental shrub with berries and leaves. The shrubs are characterised by their high resistance to drought, soil salinity or air pollution. The aim of the research carried out at the University of Technology in Szczecin, in Western Pomerania, was to check the influence of the city’s conditions on the quality of berries: mineral and chemical composition, as well as the content of L-ascorbic acid, nitrites and nitrates in shrubs growing along roads. The content of micro- and macronutrients as well as the colour and Green index of leaves were determined. Soils were characterised by similar and low salinity (0.31-0.41 g kg-1 NaCl). The content of various minerals in leaves varied depending on the test site and it was most often correlated with the soil content of these elements. Leaves collected from shrubs which grew next to a street contained more lead (1.06-1.27) but significantly less cadmium (0.08-0.11 mg kg-1) than berries collected in an orchard (Cd 0.17 and Pb 0.83 mg kg-1). The content of organic constituents in berries varied depending on the site of harvest. At the site beside the road, the study revealed a higher level of soluble solids (11.35%), L-ascorbic acid (2312 mg kg-1), organic acids (10.2 g kg-1) and nitrates (47 mg kg-1). All of the examined berries had a low level of nitrites (0.02-0.07 mg kg-1). It has been demontrated that leaves picked from the Hergo cultivar shrubs were darker (parameter L* - top 47.3), greener – especially at the top (parameter a* -13.1). They also had a higher Green index value than the leaves of shrubs growing beside the road (38.2). There is a high level (-0.81) correlation between the measured a* parameter CIE and Green index (SPAD), The sea buckthorn is perfect for urban areas. It is decorative, resistant to urban conditions and has valuable berries, which do not accumulate harmful constituents (heavy metals, nitrates, nitrites).