Hungarian Apple Research Articles

Quality testing of new Hungarian apple cultivars in normal atmosphere storage

Apples are a broadly devoured, rich wellspring of phytochemicals with many health benefits. Thus, the quality of new apple varieties should be of a high standard to please consumers. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the postharvest quality of eight apple cultivars, which were picked at different times and stored for two months before chemical component analysis. Results of the study showed significant differences among studied cultivars. Cultivar ‘Isolda’ showed a high regular fruit shape index, rich in total soluble solids content with a favorable ratio of total soluble solids content and acidity. While ‘Damra’ had a high total soluble solids content as well as pectin content. Regarding three different picking times, there was also a variation among studied apples. It can be said that these apple cultivars are suitable for fresh consumption due to their high quality. Novelty impact statement To please consumers the quality of apples should be kept high. The finding of this study revealed that new Hungarian apple cultivars showed high quality due to the high total soluble solid content, acidity, and pectin, which makes them more suitable for consumption.

Identification of scab resistance genes in new Hungarian apple hybrids using SCAR and SSR markers

Identification of scab resistance genes in new Hungarian apple hybrids using SCAR and SSR markers

Apple Varietal Names as Culturemes: Translation Issues in Scientific Textual Environments

Abstract In this study, our purpose is to establish a link between the concept of cultureme and a very intriguing type of specialized discourse: scientific texts belonging to the field of pomology (horticultural sciences). At least a segment of apple (and other fruit) varietal or cultivar names (especially those restricted to a certain geographical and cultural area or region) can be considered from a linguistic and translational viewpoint lexemes which carry cultural meaning. In our research, we focus on the apple varietal names which are specific to the region of Transylvania. We intend to see the way Romanian specialized literature observes or flouts the mentioning of Hungarian terms related to pomology (i.e. apple varietal names which are culturemes) as synonyms of the currently promoted Romanian versions. We also examine whether Hungarian specialists tend to mention the Romanian versions of Hungarian apple varietal names in their works. In fact, this research is, to a certain degree, an analysis of the attitude specialists display with regard to the scientific terminology and the long-established terms of the proximal culture.

Determination of marker alleles linked to scab resistance in multiresistant Hungarian apple cultivars

Determination of marker alleles linked to scab resistance in multiresistant Hungarian apple cultivars

Evaluation of the field resistance of old and new Hungarian apple cultivars to scab and powdery mildew

Evaluation of the field resistance of old and new Hungarian apple cultivars to scab and powdery mildew

Classification and Identification of Three Vintage Designated Hungarian Spirits by Their Volatile Compounds

The quality of fruit based spirits varies year to year; therefore, the identification of the vintage of a distilled alcoholic beverage is necessary, but requires highly sensitive analytics. The interpretation of the gathered data requires a well-adapted chemometric method. In this study, Hungarian apple, sour cherry and plum distillates (pálinka’s) from different vintages were analyzed, classified and identified using volatile composition analyzed by GC-MS. The fruit’s origin, fermentation technique and distillation were the same at all the fruits; the only differences in the samples were their vintages (2010, 2011 and 2012). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was applied for classification and components’ identification related to the vintage effect. The samples were successfully classified (correct classification rate ranging from 75 to 100%), three components are found to be related to the vintage effect regardless the fruit type: propanol, butanol and ethyl-propionate. GC-MS data proved to be a promising tool for classification of fruit distillate vintages.

Linear Activity Analysis of Production for Closed-Loop Businesses—Case Study of a Hungarian Apple Juice Factory

In the context of closed-loop and integrated production systems Koopmans linear activity analysis of production provides a relevant method for decision makers. The benefit of the method is to consider alternative production technologies at a time and model multiple material flows (inputs and outputs, including waste/pollutants) as well. In this paper Koopmans theory is proposed for modeling the reduction of waste in closed loop production processes. The method of linear activity analysis provides flexibility to measure the amount of waste by setting limiting constraints justifying the purpose of the model. Based on these features the method can be used in the future for modeling Blue Economy type of businesses. The case study of a Hungarian apple juice factory compares the conventional/linear and the new/closed loop production model. Result in GAMS software yields notable outcomes for the closed-loop apple juice factory showing not only the reduction of waste and by-products, but the expansion of new value-added products and jobs at a profitable level.

Assessment of diversity in a Hungarian apple gene bank using morphological markers

The world’s apple production is based on only a few dozen cultivars. In countries with an advanced food culture and growing environmental awareness, the demand for bio fruits and products is also increasing. The proportion of organic orchards is quite low (1–2 %) in Hungary. As regards application of cultivars, there are two possible solutions. One is to introduce new resistant cultivars from the national breeding programme into cultivation. The second is to evaluate old local cultivars to decide if they could be used in modern production systems. Our general aims are to characterise the cultivars in the apple gene bank of the Corvinus University of Budapest using morphological markers and to investigate the biodiversity of the collection. Morphological and biological characterisation of 56 different old cultivars was performed using the Union Internationale pour la Protection des Obtentions Vegetales (UPOV) descriptions. The collection exhibited great genetic diversity. The morphological similarity indexes suggest great distances between the cultivars. On the basis of hierarchical cluster analysis, all the cultivars differed greatly from the others with the exception of cultivars and cultivar groups which originated from bud mutations. It is currently hoped to re-register a number of old cultivars in Hungary, so information on the pomological characteristics of these cultivars will soon be of key importance. The biodiversity of the cultivars used by growers could be maintained or even widened by using the old cultivars stored in the gene bank as parents during the breeding process. Old cultivars possessing exceptional value and good pest and disease resistance can also be used in organic orchards.

Ascospore dispersal of Venturia inaequalis and subsequent development of scab symptoms in a Hungarian organic apple orchard

In this study, we aimed to study ascospore dispersal of Venturia inaequalis and subsequent disease development in an organic apple orchard (Eperjeske) in 2012 and 2013 on apple cultiva ’Mutsu). Burkard spore trap in March and April were used to monitior ascospore concentration and number of scab symptoms were assesed 20 May in both years. Three peaks were detected in ascospore dispersal in the period of examination which was clearly related to the Mills infection periods. On the basis of the incubation period’s length in April (15–18 days), the appearance of first symptoms had direct connection with the peak of the ascospore discharge. The largest number of symptoms were observed on those parts of the orchards where where the inoculum sources were accumulated.

Healthcare values and potential uses of the new Hungarian apple varieties on the basis on fruit analysis

Biological active compounds and valuable characteristics of some apple varieties and candidates were measured in our trials. Fruits of ’Rosmerta’, ’Hesztia’, ’Cordelia’ and ’Artemisz’ are recommended to enrich the Hungarian assortments for fresh consumption and choice of new tastes. Based on examined parameters it can be assumed that novel Hungarian resistant varieties are suitable for juice and fruit concentrate production, and due to high pectin content of their remaining pomace these varieties can be raw material of pectin production as well as they are also suitable for jam production mixed with other fruit species. Furthermore, functional food industrial product having high quality can be produced by using novel resistant varieties because of their high pectin and polyphenol content. Beside of their high market value their suitability for growing among orchard conditions is confi rmed by lower costs of production because of less plant protection treatments.

New multiresistant apple cultivars - Complex assessment of sensory and some instrumental attributes

Our study involved assessing new Hungarian multi-resistant apple cultivars (‘Artemisz’, ‘Hesztia’, ‘Rosmerta’, and ‘Cordelia’) and two commercial cultivars (‘Watson Jonathan’ and ‘Prima’). The samples were evaluated by a trained assessor panel applying computer supported profile analysis with 20 descriptive sensory parameters (using ProfiSens sensory assessment software). Beside the profiles of each cultivar we also showed the significant differences between the cultivars (LSD95%, LSD99%). The nutritional values were analysed using the MANOVA statistical method, the effects of significant factors on measured values were evaluated by using Tukey (P=0.05) post-hoc test, and we determined the homogeneous and heterogeneous groups based on that. Our study showed that PCA bi-plots containing sensory and instrumental value loadings together with the scores of apple cultivars make the complex relationships of each cultivar available for comparison. The results clearly showed that the intensity of the sour taste i...

Preliminary studies on in vitro sensitivity of Venturia inaequalis populations to some fungicide active ingredients

Aim of this study was to investigate the sensitivity of conidia of Spilocaea pomi to main fungicide active ingredients (cyprodinil, pirimethanil, fluquinconazole, tebuconazole, difenoconazole, dodine és trifloxistrobin) at dosages of 0.5, 1 and 2 times incubated in vitro at 24 and 48 hours collected from three integrated apple orchards. Results showed that degree of conidial germinations at the fungicide treatnemts decreased in the order of dosages of untreated, 0.5, 1 and 2 times. Considerable conidial germination was observed at higher dosages of some fungicides (e.g. groups of strobilurines and EBI) which confirmed the possibilities of sensitivity reduction of Spilocaea pomi to some funigicides in the sampled Hungarian apple orchards.

Investigation of dietary important components in selected red fleshed apples by GC–MS and LC–MS

Three red-fleshed apple cultivars (Malus ‘Geneva’: GFV-03, Hungarian hybrid: GFV-04, Malus pumila Niedwetzkyana: GFV-05) were investigated for their chemical composition by sHS–SPME–GC–MS and HPLC–DAD–MS/MS analytical techniques.In cultivars GFV-03 and GFV-05 sesquiterpene α-farnesene were dominant while the alphatic esters were present mostly in traces. In GFV-04 – the new disease resistant advanced selection of the Hungarian apple breeding program – hexanol and hexyl 2-methylbutanoate were present in larger amounts while the amount of α-farnesene was lower than the other two cultivars.Using HPLC–DAD–MS/MS four phenolic acid derivatives, four anthocyanins, six flavonoids of quercetin derivatives and two dihydrochalcone phloretin glycosides were identified or characterized among the detected sixteen phenolic compounds.

Comparative analysis of the production risk of major fruit species

Hungary possesses excellent agri-ecological potentials even in an international comparison. Despite their decreasing economic weight, agriculture and food production are of great significance, since the supply of the population with high quality and inexpensive food is a fundamental social demand and one of the essentials of the quality of life. The development of vegetable and food production is of great importance both from the aspect of healthy nutrition and comparative advantages (cheap workforce, professional expertise, traditions of production, climate favourable for quality). Within the Hungarian fruit production apple and sour cherry are essential branches in virtue of their significance. It is widely known, that – though to a different extent in the case of certain fruit varieties – satisfaction of the need for appropriate habitat is one of the important conditions of a decent quality and secure production. In my research, I analyse the territorial distribution, production standard and production risk of the Hungarian apple and sour cherry branches. I did not have the opportunity – because of the imperfections of the database – to compare long time series, therefore I examine the random effects affecting production by using the data of 3 years (they have the same content). I ranked and assessed each habitat and the production risks of certain fruit species compared to each other on the basis of indexes of relative deviation.

The future of the apple growing branch in Hungary

The present study deals with the actual situation of the Hungarian apple production in order to outline the chances of the future and the trends of the development to be anticipated. The general conclusion is accepted that on the long run Hungarian apple production ought to be reorganised. The conditions of keeping the position on the international market are outlined. The main concern is the aging of the plantations, i.e. 40%of them being more than 25–30 year old, and produce apple being suitable for processing only. Organisation of growers is rudimentary, export markets are limited, and buyer’s market is everywhere dominant and is getting more severe. All those circumstances anticipate the reduction of the apple growing branch from the present 35 000 hectares to 15–20 000 hectares within a period of less than 10 years.

The comparative economic analysis of Hungarian and German apple production of good standard

The profitability of the Hungarian apple production considering firms producing on high standard is not lagged behind significantly from that of German firms, moreover in certain cases it reflects a more positive situation. It is unfavourable, however, that this statement is true only for 8 to 10% of our whole apple plantation surface. The results of the investigations highlighted the fact that in comparison with Germany our farm business advantages manifest in three factors: in 70 to 80% lower wages, in 15 to 30% higher investment and subsidy intensity and in the fact that at present we cannot neglect the ice safety system which is rather expensive. By the increasing wages, the narrowing subsidy opportunities and incidentally the appearing harmful weather phenomenon, these advantages may be continuously ceased. Our definite disadvantage appears in the level of marketing price, considering the fact that producers in Hungary realize 30 to 35% lower marketing price, which is in connection with the probably much lower level of organization among farmers, in the market and in the logistical background.

Cost and profit conditions in the Hungarian intensive apple production

In this study I investigated the cost and profit conditions and the efficiency of intensive, qualitative apple production on the basis of a data collection carried out in ventures of high standard production. I concluded that the intensive apple production has an extremely high cost requirement, the production costs are approximately 1500 to 1600 thousand HUF per hectare. In an average case, a production value of 2000 thousand HUF per hectare may be reached, which may fluctuate in a wide interval during the years. Considering the above mentioned, a net profit of 400 to 500 thousand HUF may be realized in one hectare. It should be highlighted that regarding the present marketing conditions, realizing the appropriate profit may be expected only by producing 30 to 40 tons per hectare yields and 80 to 90% food quality ratio.

Molecular identification of old Hungarian apple varieties

Altogether 40, mainly old Hungarian apple varieties were screened with six previously described microsatellite markers. A total of 71 polymorphic alleles were detected (average 11.8 alleles/locus) and the heterozygosity of markers averaged very high (0.8). The genetic variability among the genotypes proved to be so remarkable that as few as three markers from the applied six were enough to distinguish between the 40 varieties. This was also confirmed by the cumulative probability of obtaining identical allele patterns for two randomly chosen apple genotypes for all loci, which value was quite low: 2.53 x 10-5. The molecular identification of these genetically very different old apple genotypes could be very useful in future breeding programs.

Lessons of the Changes in the Arthropod Population Composition in the Hungarian Apple Orchard in the Last Six Decades

About 2500 arthropod species immigrate, or carried by wind, or introduced by man in the orchards, under Hungarian climatic conditions. However, the number of the apple pest species is approximately 30. Owing to the effect of the relationships among the plant-phytophagous-zoophagous species those could colonize the orchard for which the apple provides suitable food sources and whose populations are not regulated or are regulated by a weak efficiency by parasitoids and predators. These populations create the primary pest communities. When the individual number of the parasitoid and predator species is reduced by the broad-spectrum insecticides, the population density of those phytophagous species could increase whose populations was restricted up to that time. In this case the secondary pest communities could develop. The integrated pest management provides the possibilities to solve the problems caused by the regular use of broad-spectrum insecticides. The real requirement is to find and to harmonize those methods which regulate the population dynamics of the species of the primary pest communities.

Mycotoxin producing fungi and mycotoxins in foods in Hungary in the period 1994-2002

Our knowledge on the presence of mycotoxin producing fungi and mycotoxins in food commodities in the last decade in Hungary has been summarized in this review. Among the mycotoxin producing fungi, detailed data are available for Fusarium species in cereals, and mycotoxigenic Aspergillus species in different food commodities including coffee, raisins and spices. Ochratoxin concentrations above the tolerable limit have mostly been detected in imported products such as peanuts and coffee. Ochratoxin levels close to the tolerable limit have been observed in Hungarian red peppers. Besides, ochratoxin A has also been detected in Hungarian wine, beer and raisins. Aflatoxins are usually detected in considerable quantities only in imported agricultural products in Hungary, while patulin concentrations were usually below the allowable limit in Hungarian apple juice concentrates. In the future, continuous sampling and analysis of foods and feeds are required to ensure consumer safety in Hungary.