Apple tree selection methods for fruit biochemical composition improving

Abstract

Apple is the most widespread crop in the world, the fruits of which contain nutrients (sugars) and biologically active substances (ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds) that have a beneficial effect on the human body. One of the priorities in the creation of new apple cultivars is to improve the chemical composition of fruits. Such work is carried out in the Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crop Breeding (VNIISPK). The method of repeated and geographically distant crosses is used. Over the years of breeding work at the Institute, a number of cultivars have been created that surpass previously widely known apple cultivars in terms of the content of nutrients and biologically active substances in fruits. A comparative assessment of new VNIISPK cultivars with old cultivars widely distributed in the middle zone of the Russian Federation is presented in terms of the content of sugars, ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds. The best cultivars have been selected for each studied indicator - by the sugar content (%): Ivanovskoye (11,8), Maslovskoye (10,8), Olimpiyskoye (10,9), Orlik (10,8), Osipovskoye (12,2), Pepin Orlovsky (10,8), Start (10,9), Turgenevskoye (11,4), Yablochny Spas (10,6); by the ascorbic acid content (mg/100 g): Ivanovskoye (19,5), Kulikovskoye (15,3), Maslovskoye (14,6), Nizkorosloye (18,0), Olimpiyskoye (15,4), Svezhest (12,5), Sinap Orlovskoye (13,4), Start (11,0), Yubilar (11,3); by phenolic compounds (mg/100 g): Avgusta (451), Bolotovskoye(477), Zhelannoye (384), Candil Orlovsky (553), Pamyati Khitrovo (480), Pamyat Semakinu (474), Radost Nadezhdy (474), Yubilyar (362), Yablochny Spas (369). It has been established that the new VNIISPK apple cultivars are not inferior, and in some indicators (sugars, phenolic substances) surpass previously widespread cultivars.