Fruit Quality and Phytochemical Attributes of Some Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) Cultivars as Affected by Genotypes and Seasons

This study was conducted over two growing seasons (2010 and 2011) to evaluate effects on fruit quality and phytochemical properties of new Turkish cultivars, hybrid between Irano-Caucasian- and European eco-geographic groups, and some important apricot cultivars in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. Fruit quality characteristics, sensory traits, and phytochemical parameters were investigated. The data showed that considerable variation existed in fruit quality and phytochemical properties of Turkish, and foreign apricot cultivars based on genotypes and growing seasons. The new hybrid cultivar ‘ a ataybey’ contained the highest total soluble solid content (14.6%), rich total phenolic (93.9 mg GAE 100g-1 fw), and total antioxidant capacity levels (9.8 mmol Fe2+ kg-1 fw), and >50% of blush color on the fruit peels among the cultivars. The fructose and sucrose values showed positively significant correlations with total phenolics (r = 0.55 and r = 0.69, at p< 0.05, respectively). The authors had estimated that the data will be useful for breeding studies to improve fruit quality and nutritional contents of apricot cultivars.