Genotype, Harvest Season, and Cold Storage Influence on Fruit Quality and Antioxidant Properties of Apricot

Abstract

The total antioxidant capacity, total phenols, and selected pomological traits of fresh apricots belonging to 12 genotypes were investigated over a 3-year period. These analyses were carried out on apricots at the ready-to-eat stage and after 7 and 14 days at 4°C cold storage. Total antioxidant capacity and total phenols ranged from 1.14 ± 0.10 μmolTE gFW⁻¹ to 9.93 ± 0.73 μmolTE gFW⁻¹ and from 0.22 ± 0.01 mgGAE gFW⁻¹ to 1.37 ± 0.11 mgGAE gFW⁻¹, respectively. An effect of the harvest year on the antioxidant properties was also found to be dependent on the cultivars. The most storage-susceptible parameter was the flesh firmness of fruits, while the antioxidant level was maintained during storage. The influence of the genotype on fruit quality, which involves pomological and nutraceutical properties, was highlighted by analysis of variance, hierarchical clustering, and principal component analysis.

Keywords:

• Prunus armeniaca L., Fruit quality
• Total antioxidant capacity
• Cold storage

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors wish to express their gratitude to the Bank Fundation ‘Cassa dei Risparmi di Livorno’ (Italy) that financially contributed to the results obtained in this work. Thanks to Daniel de Bettencourt (Asheville, NC, USA) for the English revision and his helpful comments.