Articles
Fruit quality assessment of some apple cultivars grown under an organic system in Norway
Article number
1457_26
Pages
199 – 206
Language
English
Abstract
Organic apple production is increasing in Norway as consumers develop a preference for this production method due to its environmental benefits, including the sustainable use of energy and natural resources.
Organic fruit production in Norway covered a total of 292 ha in 2023, with apple production on 172 ha (58% of the organic fruit production area). The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of 11 cultivars (‘Discovery Rosette’, ‘Discovery’, ‘Elstar’, ‘Holsteiner Cox’, ‘James Grieve’, ‘Katja’, ‘Red Aroma’, ‘Red Elstar’, ‘Red Ingrid Marie’, ‘Rubinstep’, and ‘Santana’) from three growing sites (Ullensvang, Telemark, and Viken) in two consecutive years (2021-2022). The average fruit weight ranged from 114.9 g (‘Katja’) to 193.3 g (‘Red Ingrid Marie’), while the fruit diameter ranged from 63.1 mm (‘James Grieve’) to 81.6 mm (‘Red Ingrid Marie’). The ground color was most intense in ‘Katja’, and the overcolor in ‘Red Ingrid Marie’. Seed number was highest in ‘Rubinstep’ (9.9) and lowest in ‘Holsteiner’, the firmest apple of all, which had the highest soluble solids (SSC) and total acid (TA) content (13.19 and 1.14%, respectively) but one of the lowest SSC/TA ratios (11.57). On average, all cultivars had higher fruit weight and diameter, ground and cover color, and SSC in 2022, whereas in the first year (2021), the fruits had higher firmness (on both the sunny and shaded sides) and a higher number of seeds.
In terms of locations, the apples in Telemark had the most intense ground, fruit size, seed number, and weight; the apples from Viken had the highest acids and firmness, while those from Ullensvang had the highest SSC/TA ratio.
All the cultivars tested had excellent pomological traits and are recommended for organic production in Norway or in locations with similar agro-climatic conditions.
Organic fruit production in Norway covered a total of 292 ha in 2023, with apple production on 172 ha (58% of the organic fruit production area). The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of 11 cultivars (‘Discovery Rosette’, ‘Discovery’, ‘Elstar’, ‘Holsteiner Cox’, ‘James Grieve’, ‘Katja’, ‘Red Aroma’, ‘Red Elstar’, ‘Red Ingrid Marie’, ‘Rubinstep’, and ‘Santana’) from three growing sites (Ullensvang, Telemark, and Viken) in two consecutive years (2021-2022). The average fruit weight ranged from 114.9 g (‘Katja’) to 193.3 g (‘Red Ingrid Marie’), while the fruit diameter ranged from 63.1 mm (‘James Grieve’) to 81.6 mm (‘Red Ingrid Marie’). The ground color was most intense in ‘Katja’, and the overcolor in ‘Red Ingrid Marie’. Seed number was highest in ‘Rubinstep’ (9.9) and lowest in ‘Holsteiner’, the firmest apple of all, which had the highest soluble solids (SSC) and total acid (TA) content (13.19 and 1.14%, respectively) but one of the lowest SSC/TA ratios (11.57). On average, all cultivars had higher fruit weight and diameter, ground and cover color, and SSC in 2022, whereas in the first year (2021), the fruits had higher firmness (on both the sunny and shaded sides) and a higher number of seeds.
In terms of locations, the apples in Telemark had the most intense ground, fruit size, seed number, and weight; the apples from Viken had the highest acids and firmness, while those from Ullensvang had the highest SSC/TA ratio.
All the cultivars tested had excellent pomological traits and are recommended for organic production in Norway or in locations with similar agro-climatic conditions.
Publication
Authors
M. Meland, M. Kitanovic, M. Fotirić Akić
Keywords
Malus × domestica Borkh., color, firmness, soluble solids, acids, fruit quality
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