FRUIT QUALITY OF NEW INTRODUCED PLUM CULTIVARS UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF BULGARIA

Marieta Nesheva,Madalina Butac

doi:10.33045/fgr.v37.2021.07

Abstract

Prunus domestica L. is one of the most commonly grown fruit species in Bulgaria due to its high ecological adaptation and multiple ways of fruit marketing. Fruit quality is associated with attributes such as appearance, texture, taste and colour. Breeding and new cvs. introduction are in constant search for cultivars with better fruit quality that would answer the increasing consumer requirements. In 2013 the Romanian plum cvs. ‘Pitestean’, ‘Roman’, ‘Romanta’, ‘Carpatin’ and ‘Tita’ were introduced in Bulgaria and planted in a collection orchard at the Fruit Growing Institute, Plovdiv. The study was conducted in the period 2016-2021. It aimed to evaluate the fruit quality when the cultivars are grown under the agro-environmental conditions of the region. For obtaining this objective, fruit weight, fruit flesh firmness, TSS (°Brix), skin colour with and without wax bloom and fruit flesh colour were measured. For evaluating consumer acceptance, a sensory analysis was performed. ‘Roman’ had the largest fruits with an average fruit weight of 46.66 g and the highest TSS content – 18.2°Brix. There were significant differences in the colour parameters L*, a*, b*, Chroma and Hue between the cultivars and the wax bloom had a significant effect on colour parameters. All fruits were appreciated by the testing panel of consumers and their taste qualities were evaluated as good and very good.

Highlights

Plum (Prunus domestica L.) is a traditional fruit species in Bulgaria
This study aimed to describe the fruit quality that these cultivars provide when they are grown in the agro-environmental conditions of Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Plum fruits were subjected to colour evaluation in the CIE L*a*b* system using handheld colorimeter PCE-CSM 2, measuring the equatorial part of 10 fruits with a natural wax bloom, with removed bloom and their fruit flesh colour

Summary

Introduction

Plum (Prunus domestica L.) is a traditional fruit species in Bulgaria. It ranks third after walnut and sweet cherry with 12,098 ha of plum orchards and first in the amount of fruit production. In 2020 an increase of 6.9% was observed in the planted areas (Agrostatistics, 2020). That shows a good demand for this fruit species among the producers. Occupied 73.4% of the orchards, followed by ‘Čačanska lepotiča’ with 5.8% and ‘Jojo’ with 4% (Agrostatistics, 2019). Is a fact that could be changed as a result of the studies on new plum genetic resources, by introducing and establishing new cv. That comply with the latest issues of producers and consumers (Bozhkova, 2013) The prevailing single cv. is a fact that could be changed as a result of the studies on new plum genetic resources, by introducing and establishing new cv. that comply with the latest issues of producers and consumers (Bozhkova, 2013)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion