Features of red-berried elder (Sambucus racemose L.) fruit growth and development in the Moscow Region, Russia

The investigation of plants with high bioresource potential from renewable sources, whether native or cultivated in Russia, is of significant importance. Sambucus racemosa L., a European understory species, accumulates fatty oils and is traditionally used in cosmetics and medicine. This study investigated the fruit development of red-berried elder, using fruits collected from the S.I. Rostovtsev Botanical Garden (Moscow) during 2021–2022. Morphological, morphometric, and weight characteristics of developing fruits were analyzed to determine the duration of developmental phases and describe growth dynamics. Fruit development followed a double sigmoid growth curve. A growth and weight increase lag was observed from mid-June to the beginning of the third decade of June. The entire fruit development process spanned eight weeks, from the third decade of May to the second decade of July, with growth continuing for six weeks until early July and ripening occurring over two weeks. Fruit length increased from 3.633 ± 0.008 mm to 4.646 ± 0.014 mm, width from 2.752 ± 0.141 mm to 4.757 ± 0.244 mm, thickness from 2.463 ± 0.127 mm to 4.471 ± 0.230 mm, and weight from 9.145 ± 0.472 mg to 62.340 ± 3.245 mg. Growth dynamics in length, width, and thickness exhibited similar patterns. Following the growth lag, width and thickness increased at a faster rate than length. The obtained data on the growth and development dynamics of red-berried elder fruits are comparable to those reported for Sambucus sibirica Nak.

1. Artyushenko Z.T., Vasiliev I.V., Gzyryan M.S., Golovach A.G. et al. Trees and shrubs of the USSR. Wild, cultivated, and promising for introduction. Vol. VI (Angiosperms of the Loganiaceae-Asteraceae family). Moscow-Leningrad, USSR: Izd-vo Akademii nauk, 1962:380. (In Russ.)

2. Gromadin A.V., Sakhonenko A.N. Dendrological handbook. Trees and shrubs suitable for open ground cultivation in Russia: a reference book. Moscow, Russia: KMK Scientific Press Ltd., 2025:695. (In Russ.)

3. Zhamoran Ts. Biology of sea buckthorn (Hippophaё rhamnoides L.) in the conditions of Northern Mongolia: CSc (Bio) thesis. Irkutsk, USSR, 1971:20. (In Russ.)

4. Zagornyan E.M. Structural basis of development of fruits of the genus Lycopersicon Tourn. Kishinev, MSSR, USSR: Shtiintsa, 1990:264. (In Russ.)

5. Zubik I.N., Orlova E.E., Makarov S.S., Chudetsky A.I. Features of sparsely distributed garden crops of the Elaeagnaceae and Myrtaceae families. Moscow, Russia: Mechanization and Electrification of Agriculture Publ., 2024:112. (In Russ.)

6. Korovkin O.A., Cheryatova Yu.S. Botany: a textbook. Moscow, Russia: KnoRus, 2024:464. (In Russ.)

7. Makarov S.S., Zubik I.N., Orlova E.E. et al. Study of ornamental features of feijoa (Acca sellowiana (O. Berg) Burret) in Abkhazia. Fruit and Berry Growing in Russia. 2023;75:61-77. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31676/2073-4948-2023-75-61-77

8. Makarov S.S., Sungurova N.R., Chudetsky A.I. Ornamental dendrology. St. Petersburg, Russia: Lan, 2024:340. (In Russ.)

9. Makarov S.S., Chudetsky А.I., Sakhonenko А.N., Solovyov А.V. et al. Creation of a bioresource collection of berry plants on the basis of Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy. Timiryazev Biological Journal. 2023;(4):23-33. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.26897/2949-4710-2023-4-23-33

10. Malinkina E.V., Kislukhina O.V., Rumyantsev V.Yu. Juicy fruits of wild and cultivated plants as raw material for obtaining vitaminized oils. Mezhdunarodniy simpozium ‘Novye i netraditsionnye rasteniya i perspektivy ikh ispolzovaniya’. June 20-24, 2001. Moscow-Pushchino: Peoples Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 2001;3:532-534. (In Russ.)

11. Nozdrina T.D., Trusov N.A., Solnyshkova A.A., Solomonova E.V. Fruits of euonymus as a source of oils. Obshcheuniversitetskaya nauchnaya konferentsiya molodykh uchonykh i spetsialistov ‘Den nauki’. April 1-30, 2016. Moscow: Moscow State University of Food Production, 2016;2:81-82. (In Russ.)

12. Potapov V.B., Sitnikov A.P. Development of seed and fruit in sorrel-leaved knotweed. Vserossiyskaya nauchnaya konferentsiya, posvyashchennaya 100-letiyu so dnya rozhdeniya professora A.D. Fursaeva ‘Floristicheskie i geobotanicheskie issledovaniya v Evropeyskoy Rossii’. August 21-21, 2000. Saratov, Russua: Saratov State University, 2000:422-423. (In Russ.)

13. Sozonova L.I. Morphological and anatomical structure and topography of fat inclusions of elderberry fruit (family Sambucaceae Link.). In: Biology, selection and agricultural technology of fruit and berry crops. Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia, 1991:59-71. (In Russ.)

14. Sozonova L.I. Elderberry fruit. Development, structure, prospects for economic use: a monograph. Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia, 1998:54. (In Russ.)

15. Sozonova L.I. Juicy oil fruits. Patterns of development and structure in connection with oil accumulation: DSc (Bio) thesis. Moscow, Russia, 1992:36. (In Russ.)

16. Sozonova L.I., Trusov N.A., Solomonova E.V. On classification and nomenclature of juicy fruits. Bulletin of the Main Botanical Garden. 2012;(3(198)):65-67. (In Russ.)

17. Solomonova E.V., Trusov N.A. Search and perspective use of fleshy oil fruits of forest plants. Forestry Information. 2017;(1):78-87. (In Russ.)

18. Solomonova E.V., Trusov N.A., Morozova M.Yu., Nozdrina T.D. Morphometric and weight characteristics of exotic edible fruit Decaisnea fargesii Franch. (Lardizabalaceae R.Br.), growing in the conditions of Moscow Region. Sotsialno-ekologicheskie tekhnologii. 2020;10(3):249-264. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31862/2500-2961-2020-10-3-249-264

19. Stankov S.S., Shalyganova O.N., Bokhonov M.P. Wild oil plants of the Gorky Region: Description, geographical distribution, oil content and practical use. Gorky, USSR, 1935:187. (In Russ.)

20. Cheryatova Yu.S. Actual aspects of anatomical and morphological research of medicinal plant material of Laurocerasus officinalis (M. Roem.). Ekosistemy. 2020;(21(51)):85-92. (In Russ.)

21. Cheryatova Yu.S. Anatomo-diagnostic traits of medicinal vegetable raw materials of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Era of Science. 2019;(20):620-626. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24411/2409-3203-2019-12130

22. Cheryatova Yu.S., Yembaturova E.Yu., Solomonova E.V., Monakhos S.G. Morphometric characteristics of rape (Brassica napus L.) seedpods. Natural and Technical Sciences. 2023;(8(183)):85-87. (In Russ.)

23. Evert R.F. Anatomy of plants Esau. Meristems, cells and tissues of plants: structure, functions and development: a textbook. Moscow, Russia: Laboratoriya znaniy, 2024:603. (In Russ.)

24. Cheryatova Yu. Morphological and Anatomical Study of Medicinal Plant Material Myrtus communis L. INTERAGROMASH 2022. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems. 2023;575:2302-2308. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21219-2_258

25. Ohwi J. Flora of Japan. Washington, USA: Smithsonian Institution, 1965:1072.

26. Keserović Z. Stages of fruit development in sour cherries. Voćarstvo. 2005;39(15 2):365-372. (In Croatian)

27. Kumar B.P., Purohit A.G. Studies on Fruit Growth and Development in Pomegranate. J. Maharashtra agric. Univ. 1989;14(2):187-189.

28. Ognjanov V., Vujanić-Varga D., Mišić P.D., Verešbaranji I. et al. Anatomical and biochemical studies of fruit development in peach. Scientia Horticulterae. 1995;64(1-2):33-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4238(95)00825-9

29. Opara L.U. Fruit Growth Measurement and Analysis. Horticultural Reviews. 2010;24:373-431. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470650776.ch8

30. Roth I. Fruits of Angiosperms. Berlin-Stuttgart, 1977:675.

31. Qiner Y., Boufford D.E. Sambucus Linnaeus. Flora of China. 2011;19:611-613. URL: http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/PDF/PDF19/Sambucus.pdf (accessed: July 15, 2025).

32. Sambucus racemosa L. Plants for a Future. URL: https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Sambucus+racemosa (accessed: July 16, 2025).

33. Sambucus racemosa L. World Flora Online. URL: http://www.worldfloraonline.org/ (accessed: July 16, 2025)

34. Singh P., Singh I.S. Physico-chemical changes during fruit development in litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.). Mysore Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 1995;29:252-255.

35. Solomonova E.V., Trusov N.A., Nozdrina T.D. Search for alternative plant raw materials for food industry and environmentally safe animal breeding. RUDN Bulletin. Series: Agronomy and Animal Husbandry. 2021;16(1):18-29. https://doi.org/10.22363/2312-797X2021-16-1-18-29

36. Yamaguchi M., Haji T., Miyake M., Yaegaki H. Varietal Differences in Cell Division and Enlargement Periods during Peach (Prunus persica Batsch) Fruit Development. Journal of the Japanese Society for Horticultural Science. 2002;72(2)155-163. https://doi.org/10.2503/jjshs.71.155