Yield, pomological characteristics, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of &lt;i&gt;Annona cherimola Mill.&lt;/i&gt; grown in mediterranean climate

Stefano Puccio,Carla Gentile,Giuseppe Sortino,Anna Perrone,Giuseppe Gianguzzi,Vittorio Farina

doi:10.3934/agrfood.2019.3.592

Abstract

The agronomic and qualitative responses of the cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill.) fruit grown in Mediterranean climate are not properly studied. Fruits of Fino de Jete, the most diffused worldwide cultivar of cherimoya, and Torre 1 a new genotype obtained by breeding program in Sicily, Italy, were collected at commercial ripening and subjected to productive (yield efficiency, number of fruits, crop load), analytical (fruit weight, transversal diameter, longitudinal diameter, total soluble solid content, titratable acidity, seed weight, seed number, peel and pulp weight, pulp/seed ratio and colorimetric analysis), bioactive compound content (total antioxidant activity, Phenolic and Carotenoid) and sensory evaluations by a semi-trained panel, recorded over two productive seasons. Even if the climatic conditions prevailing in Sicily differ from those of most cherimoya-growing regions, the two observed cultivars generally showed yields and fruit qualitative characteristics comparable with those harvested in other Mediterranean and Tropical areas. Fino de Jete confirmed its quality standard thanks to its yields performance and fruit weight. Despite of this, Torre 1 showed interesting physico-chemical, sensory properties and bioactive compounds, suitable for the consumer needs: less number of seeds and better pulp/seed ratio, better total solid soluble content/tritratable acidity ratio, higher phenolic content and antioxidant activity. These results suggest that cherimoya can be cropped for fresh production in Mediterranean environment with promising yields and good standards of fruit quality.

Highlights

Torre 1 showed interesting physico-chemical, sensory properties and bioactive compounds, suitable for the consumer needs: less number of seeds and better pulp/seed ratio, better total solid soluble content/tritratable acidity ratio, higher phenolic content and antioxidant activity. These results suggest that cherimoya can be cropped for fresh production in Mediterranean environment with promising yields and good standards of fruit quality
On the AIMS Agriculture and Food other hand, the analysis showed a higher carotenoid content in Fino de Jete: 5.5 g β-carotene eq/100 g fresh weight (FW) vs 2.7 of Torre 1, according to the colorimetric analysis carried out on the flesh
The new cherimoya genotype Torre 1 was found to be better in terms of pulp/seed ratio, small number of seed, total soluble solid content (TSSC)/TA ratio and panel acceptance, together with a greater concentration of bioactive compounds, comparable to that found in fruits grown in tropical areas

Summary

Introduction

Cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill.) originates in the Andean regions of Ecuador and Peru and more generally in the American intertropical band where is found in the spontaneous and fruiting state [1]. Genus Annona (family Annonaceae) includes more than 100 species of tropical and subtropical origins [1]. Only five are of fruit bearing importance: Annona cherimola Mill. For this reason, these are the only species being currently studied. Cherimoya is the only cultivated species whose fruit is widely marketed and is considered one of the most appreciated tropical fruits within the genus Annona spp. Cherimoya is the only cultivated species whose fruit is widely marketed and is considered one of the most appreciated tropical fruits within the genus Annona spp. [3]

Methods

Results

Conclusion