Effect of Spring Frost Damage on Apple Fruit ( Malus domestica Borkh.) Inner Quality at Harvest

Anka Cebulj, Maja Mikulič-Petkovšek, Robert Veberič and Jerneja Jakopic
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Anka Cebulj: Department of Fruit Growing, Viticulture and Oenology, Agricultural Institute of Slovenia, Hacquetova ulica 17, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Maja Mikulič-Petkovšek: Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Robert Veberič: Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Jerneja Jakopic: Department of Agronomy, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: In the last few years, spring frosts have become more of a rule than an exception. There are several prevention measures available for growers and numerous are being tested; however, fruitlets are often affected to some extent. One of the more common phenomena is the development of frost rings. The aim of our study was to evaluate how the occurrence of frost rings affects sugar, organic acid, and phenol content in the flesh and phenol content in the peel of cv. ‘Gala’ apples. The results show that the frost damage from spring frost affects compounds in the peel, as well as in the flesh of ripe apples. The flesh of fruits with frost rings contained higher content of fructose and in the flesh directly under the rings there was higher sorbitol and malic acid content. Additionally, the hydroxycinnamic acid and dihydrochalcone content in apple flesh was also altered by frost. The frost-affected peel had a completely different ratio of phenolic compounds content in comparison to healthy apples. While there was a significantly higher content of hydroxycinnamic acids and dihydrochalcones in the corky peel in comparison to the unaffected peel, the flavonol and anthocyanin content was considerably lower.

Keywords: frost rings; sugar; sorbitol; phenolic content (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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