Relationships between Soluble Solids and Dry Matter in the Flesh of Stone Fruit at Harvest

Alessio Scalisi,Mark Glenn O’Connell

doi:10.3390/analytica2010002

Alessio Scalisi, Mark Glenn O’Connell

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/analytica2010002

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Journal: Analytica	Publication Date: Feb 2, 2021
Citations: 7	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Agriculture Victoria, University of Melbourne

Abstract

Soluble solids concentration (SSC) is a reference index that is typically used to quantify soluble sugars, the most abundant constituents of stone fruit flesh dry matter when approaching maturity. Dry matter concentration (DMC) is another parameter that has been often associated with fruit quality. This study investigated the relationship of SSC and DMC in fourteen stone fruit cultivars at harvest. SSC and DMC were measured at physiological maturity in peach, nectarine, plum and apricot. SSC and DMC data had similar symmetrical patterns (range, means and variability) for most of the cultivars. Mean SSC ranged between 11.6 and 19.7 °Brix, and DMC between 11.6% and 19.4% w/w across all fruit studied. High variability in SSC was observed in apricot, with an interquartile range = 5.7 °Brix. A generic linear regression model that included peach, nectarine and plum cultivars revealed a robust association between DMC and SSC (p < 0.001, R2 = 0.914, n = 2800) with a DMC prediction error (RMSE) equal to 0.874% w/w. However, when a simplified DMC = SSC was used for DMC estimation, the RMSE only slightly increased and was still lower than 1.00% w/w. Similar results were observed when linear regression models were assessed in each cultivar independently, with R2 > 0.75 and RMSE generated by the simplified DMC = SSC model lower than 1.00% w/w in thirteen out of fourteen stone fruit cultivars, with the exception of the apricot cultivar. These results provide empirical evidence that SSC and DMC are highly correlated fruit quality indicators in plum, peach and nectarine at harvest.

Highlights

Stone fruit of the genus Prunus are among the most economically important crops in temperate regions
This study investigated the association between solids concentration (SSC) and Dry matter concentration (DMC) in fourteen stone fruit cultivars at harvest and assessed whether these two parameters provide similar information for fruit quality monitoring
The late nectarine and peach ‘September Bright’, ‘September Sun’ and ‘Snow Fall’, and the ‘Angeleno’ plum were harvested in March, with the latter being the last cultivar to reach maturity

Summary

Introduction

Stone fruit of the genus Prunus are among the most economically important crops in temperate regions. Distinguishing fruit quality is important to inform orchard management strategies, maximise production outcomes and meet consumer satisfaction. Fruit internal composition at harvest is affected by several biochemical changes that are in turn influenced by ripening stage, orchard management, and by genetic and environmental factors. Some of the fruit constituents that mutate across maturation have been extensively used as quality parameters and maturity indices to better manage harvest, storage and shelf-life in tree fruit crops. SSC increases during maturation [2,4] and represents one of the most characteristic fruit biochemical changes that occur prior to harvest. Borsani et al [7] observed that sorbitol is consumed early in the ripening process, followed by partial sucrose degradation accompanied by fructose and glucose increases. SSC is one of the most used fruit maturity indices in nectarine, peach, apricot and plum [8]

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Conclusion