Assessment of Physicochemical Properties of Autumn and Winter Apple Varieties and Their Pretability for Juice Extraction

Abstract

This study reveals data about the physicochemical properties of autumn and winter apple cultivars from Cluj-Napoca, Romania and technological transfer of the research data to apple breeding programs and nutrition area. The main objective pursued is materialized in the study of performances of five autumn-apple varieties and twelve winter ones regarding thirteen characteristics conferring high suitability for juice extraction. It also wants to formulate conclusions and recommendations for: consuming healthy foods and apple improvement programs in view of obtaining new cultivars of high quality fruits, suitable for fresh consumption as well as for juice production. Two of the oldest traditional Romanian apple varieties, ‘Pătul’ and ‘Poinic’, which have been chosen as references for the suitability of such cultivation for the production of juice, are famous for their juicy and balanced taste, riches in vitamin C and low in sugar content. It is obvious that for these traits there are large selecting possibilities of the genitors both as plus variants as well as minus variants, according to the direction of melioration being considered.