The lipids of gooseberry, currant and their seeds were characterized. It was found that the lipid content increased during ripening from 45 g/kg to 150 g/kg in gooseberries, and from about 33 g/kg to 115-123 g/kg in currants (black, red and white). The lipids extracted from seeds of mature fruits was a mixture of triacylglycerols, which was accompanied by partial acylglycerols, i.e. mono- and diacylglycerols, and free fatty acids. The content of triacylglycerols in pressed and solvent-extracted oils from gooseberry seeds was 85% and 91%, respectively. The respective values were 83% and 90% for white currants, 85% and 92% for black currants, and 84% and 90% for red currants. The amount of saturated fatty acids gradually decreased while of polyenic acids increased during ripening of currants. The lipids of the berries studied were a rich source of essential unsaturated fatty acids.
Paper presents a general review of many years’ experimental studies on mechanized harvesting of shrub berry fruits - currants, gooseberries, raspberries and black chokeberries (aronia). Results of the studies showed that available nowadays technical equipment enables practical mechanization of currants, gooseberies and black chokeberries harvesting. However, for mechanized harvest of raspberries the new varieties of fruits - resistant to mechanical damages at harvesting and handling - have to be grown and selected.