Quality of strawberries produced applying two different growing systemsCalidad de fresas producidas aplicando dos diferentes sistemas de cultivo

Abstract

The quality of strawberry fruits (cv. “Clery” and cv. “Asia”) was studied and compared under the conditions of two different growing systems (under a high plastic tunnel and in the open field). Several chemical parameters were determined in the harvested fruits: dry matter, soluble solids, total acidity, ratio between sugars and acids, vitamin C, total phenols, non-flavonoid phenolic compounds, total anthocyanins, reducing sugars, sucrose, colour of fruits, and HPLC analysis of flavonols, flavanols, and phenolic acids content. The fruits of cultivar “Clery” had more antioxidant compounds than the fruits of cultivar “Asia” when grown in the open field. The fruits of both cultivars grown under a tunnel generally had good properties; however, the total phenol content and the non-flavonoid fraction were somewhat lower. Among the phenolic compounds, (+)-catehin, (−)-epicatehin, ellagic, p-coumaric acid, quercetin, and kaempferol were identified and quantified using HPLC equipped with Photo Diode Array detection. The highest content of phenolic compounds was found in cv. “Clery” from the open field production. Analysis of antioxidant compounds has not shown statistically significant differences as a result of growing system or grown cultivar. Samples of strawberries grown under a high plastic tunnel, regardless of examined cultivar, had better basic chemical parameters. The mash colour also depends on cultivar and growing system.