Comparative evaluation of the biochemical composition of fruits Malus spp.

Abstract

To determine and compare the content of biochemical compounds in fruits of nine cultivars of M. domestica Borkh. and ten of Malus spp. (given in the research materials), to select the most promising for use in further breeding and recommend for use in various directions, considering the biochemical complex of characters, taste, and marketable qualities of fruits. The dry matter content, a sum of sugars, titratable acids, tannins, and ascorbic acid was evaluated for two years according to generally accepted operating methods. The large-fruited apple cultivars were found to have values of dry matter (11.2-22.8%) and small-fruited (15.5-30.9%); the total amount of sugars in large-fruited cultivars varies from 6.7 to 10.9%, in small-fruited from 7.5 to 12.7%; the amount of ascorbic acid in fruits of M. domestica fruits averaged from 6.0 to 12.2 mg.100 g-1, in crabapple from 6.6 to 22.8 mg.100 g-1; titratable organic acids in fruits of large cultivars ranged from 0.74 to 1.67%, in small ones from 1.50 to 2.34%; tannins content was found in the range from 0.06 to 0.52% in high-fruited cultivars and from 0.29 to 2.61% in lower-fruited ones. Comparative evaluation of the biochemical composition of fruits between large-fruited and small-fruited species and cultivars of apple trees showed that representatives of Malus spp. are more promising for use in breeding and industrial purposes. The dynamics of the decrease of dry soluble substance's weight and the increase of ascorbic acid content in apple tree fruits were also noted.