Considering results from the present study, the use of CATA questions could be a simple and interesting methodology to gain insight into consumers' perception of different fruit cultivars.

Projective mapping consisted of a quick alternative for the evaluation of new cultivars relative to standard commercial cultivars. Its main advantage is that a large number of cultivars can be screened with minimal investment of time and resources.

Traditionally, plant breeding goals have focused on increasing yield, product firmness, shelf life and pest tolerance, combining ambient adaptation and agronomic management, without making focus on the sensory characteristics. The addition of sensory information into plant breeding programs provides breeders with unbiased tools to measure otherwise subjective quality traits. Combining consumer preferences with descriptive information about the sensory characteristics of products can contribute to the development of consumer-driven improvements in diverse agronomical commodities. In this context, the objective of this review is to describe a series of successful experiences where sensory evaluation has contributed to breeding programs in order to develop cultivars with enhanced sensory characteristics and higher likelihood of succeeding in the marketplace. The application of analytic and hedonic tests are described and discussed. A special consideration is made into fruit and vegetables examples, with focus on strawberry and sweet potato, considering the relevance of consumer acceptance in rising consumption of these products. Rice is also showed as an example of a cereal widely consumed worldwide and where cooking methods display a special challenge in sensory evaluation.

The evaluation of the sensory characteristics of sweet potato clones and cultivars using projective mapping is a quick, cost-effective and reliable tool for the selection of new advanced sweet potato clones with superior sensory characteristics compared to the reference cultivars INIA Arapey and Cuarí. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

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BACKGROUND Sweet‐potato breeding programs need to integrate sensory characterization and hedonic perception to provide global markets with widely accepted products. The present work aimed to characterize a series of purple‐skin sweet potatoes differing in flesh coloration (from pale yellow to slight orange) from a sensory and physicochemical perspective. Uruguayan consumers' perceptions of the genotypes were also explored. Special focus was placed on the influence of flesh color on consumers' expectations and hedonic perception of purple‐skin sweet potatoes. RESULTS Sensory characterization based on projective mapping showed that the evaluated genotypes largely differed in their sensory characteristics in terms of flavor, texture, and color. Soluble solids and the concentration of individual sugars were not good predictors of sensory quality. In the appearance evaluation, consumers associated orange flesh with positive expected sensory characteristics and stronger liking. Flavor (sweetness and typical flavor) and texture (creaminess) were identified as key characteristics influencing consumers' liking and description of sweet‐potato samples. Among purple‐skin (‘criollo or boniato’ type) genotypes, INIA Cambará was identified as the closest to the ideal sweet potato and was described with the terms sweet, tasty, creamy, and characteristic flavor. CONCLUSION Flesh color was identified as a key driver of consumers' sensory and hedonic expectations. Results showed that Uruguayan consumers positively value traditional purple‐skin sweet potatoes with orange flesh, as it drives positive sensory expectations. However, after tasting, flesh color does not seem to have a relevant influence on consumer liking.

El sistema de producción de frutilla en el litoral norte de Uruguay está basado en micro y macrotúneles, con el objetivo de producir fruta durante otoño, invierno y primavera. El objetivo del programa de mejoramiento de INIA es contar con variedades adaptadas a las condiciones ambientales, resistentes a enfermedades y plagas, de alta calidad, sabor y vida postcosecha. El objetivo del trabajo consistió en la evaluación de calidad de fruta de seis cultivares de frutilla (INIA Yvahé, INIA Guenoa, Yurí, Earlibrite, SGK50.4 y SGJ37.2) durante la estación productiva y la evaluación sensorial de los tres cultivares INIA disponibles en el mercado. Se trabajó con tres repeticiones por cultivar, evaluando calidad externa e interna en cosecha para cada fecha considerada (junio, setiembre y octubre). Se seleccionaron tres cultivares (INIA Yvahé, INIA Guenoa, Yurí) para su evaluación sensorial con consumidores en la cosecha de octubre. Yurí destacó por su calidad de fruta, siendo el cultivar más firme en todas las fechas de cosecha (20-55%). Respecto a la evaluación sensorial, los tres cultivares alcanzaron altos puntajes de aceptabilidad global. De acuerdo a la percepción de los consumidores, existieron claras diferencias en las características sensoriales de los cultivares, principalmente en su dulzor, acidez, tamaño, firmeza y forma. Yurí fue percibido por los consumidores como más dulce y firme que INIA Guenoa e INIA Yvahé. Es posible concluir que existen diferencias significativas en la calidad de fruta obtenida en función de la época de cosecha y que los cultivares evaluados tienen amplia aceptación por los consumidores uruguayos.

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