Evaluation of strawberry varieties by biochemical composition and commercial qualities under the conditions of Orenburg Urals

Abstract

The article presents the results of studies of the chemical composition, commercial qualities and taste of berries of promising strawberry varieties breeding of the All-Russian Horticultural Institute for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery (Moscow) in the conditions of the Orenburg Urals. The studies were carried out in 2016-2018 on the basis of the Orenburg Experimental Station of Horticulture and Viticulture of the All-Russian Horticultural Institute for Breeding, Agrotechnology and Nursery in specific conditions, where almost annually dry and moderately dry climatic periods were observed during the formation of the yield (May-June). A comparative evaluation of varieties on the content of sugars, acids, vitamin C in berries, taste and attractiveness of appearance is given. The dependence of the studied parameters on the genotype of the variety and vegetation conditions was established. Depending on the variety and year, the content of soluble solids varied from 7.2 to 10.2 %, with an average content of 8.9 %; total acidity varied from 0.8 to 1.2 %, with an average content of 1.0 %; the content of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) was from 45.1 to 78.5 mg/100 g, with an average content of 56.4 mg/100 g. Varieties with high parameters of tasting evaluation (Darenka, Kokinskaya Zarya, Studencheskaya), soluble solids (Rosinka, Studencheskaya) and ascorbic acid (Kokinskaya Zarya, Bereginya) were revealed. They are recommended to be grown to obtain fresh consumption products and as processing products of various directions. Bereginya, Darenka and Rosinka varieties surpass control varieties in certain biochemical parameters and can be used in breeding in the Urals region to obtain new genotypes with an increased content of a specific biologically active substance. The variety Tsaritsa is selected for high commodity qualities of berries (weight, dessert taste, attractiveness of appearance) and is recommended for commercial production of berries and involvement in breeding process. It has been established that the taste of berries is determined by a complex of acids, sugars and aromatic substances. This parameter was greatly influenced by weather conditions, from which air temperature and precipitations were determining.