Phenolic compounds in some apple (Malus domestica Borkh) cultivars of organic and integrated production

Abstract

Eleven organically grown apple cultivars and 11 apple cultivars of integrated production from Austria and Slovenia were analyzed by HPLC for the content of phenolic compounds in peel and pulp. We identified chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, procyanidin B3, protocatechuic acid, (−)-epicatechin, phloridzin, rutin and quercetin-3-rhamnoside in apple peel. In apple pulp, (+)-catechin was also identified in all the cultivars. Some other phenols (procyanidin B3, rutin and quercetin-3-rhamnoside) could not be identified or were not properly separated. With regard to the phenolic content in the apple peel, there were no differences between organically grown apple cultivars and apple cultivars of integrated production. Organically grown apples, however, exhibited a higher content of phenolic substances in the apple pulp compared with the apple cultivars of integrated production. This may be due either to the different genotype source or to the growing technology. Higher concentrations of phenolic compounds in organically grown cultivars could be a result of plant response to stress. The apple peel contained higher concentrations of identified phenols than the pulp. The apple peel represents up to 10% of the whole fruit; therefore the phenolsic compounds in the pulp are of greater importance to the consumer than the phenolic compounds in the peel.

Biochemical Characteristics, Antimicrobial and Mutagenic Activity in Organically and Conventionally Produced Malus domestica, Annurca

“…By focusing on the phenols in two types of Annurca apple, we found that the organically grown variety contained many more phenols in contrast to those grown in a conventional way. A different content in polyphenols was also reported by Veberic et al [17] and Hecke et al [18], which studied several organic and integrated varieties of apple. Generally, the content of polyphenols may be expected in vegetable organisms also as reaction against biotic or abiotic stress.…”

Analysis of selected primary metabolites and phenolic profile of ‘Golden Delicious’ apples from four production systems

“…previously obtained by other authors [7,14,19]. In the pulp of organically produced apples, a significantly higher total phenolic content was measured compared with the pulp of apple from the other three treatments, respectively.…”

“…According to many authors [14,27,28], higher phenol concentration in organically grown fruits can be attributed to severe forms of biotic or abiotic stress, which is known to induce phenolic biosynthesis. However, this theory cannot be applied universally, since there are examples in the literature where the content of phenolic compounds did not significantly differ between organically and conventionally produced fruit [7] or was even lower in organically produced fruit [29].…”

“…The similarities among the integrated practices, Madex and Neem treatments could be the consequence of identical production technology until the end of July in all three treatments. Several authors have published their results on the effect of management systems on fruit quality parameters [5,14,23]. According to most parameters analyzed in the study of Peck et al, the conventional and integrated farm management systems were more similar to each other than either was to the organic system [5].…”

“…Their content and profile in fruit is influenced by several factors, including climate [9], the effects of light [10], cultivars [11], temperature, mineral nutrition, water management, grafting, application of elicitors, stimulating agents, plant activators [12] and exposure to various kinds of stress [13]. Veberic et al established that organically grown apples exhibited a higher content of phenolic compounds in apple pulp compared with apples from integrated production [14]. This may be due to the absence of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and thinners, that are not allowed in organic production.…”