CONSUMERS’ PREFERENCES FOR NEW PLUM CULTIVARS (PRUNUS DOMESTICA L.)

Results from consumer tests of four new plum cultivars are reported.
The consumers found the appearance of ‘Jubileum’ and ‘Reeves’ better than the other cultivars.
However, the flavour scores of ‘Reeves’ were low. ‘Excalibur’ recieved the highest flavour scores, even if the appearance was poorly rated by the judges.
Based on chemical analyses of important quality factors, the high scores of ‘Excalibur’ and the medium scores of ‘Victoria’ and ‘Jubileum’ was expected. ‘Avalon’, recieving medium to high scores, was higher rated and ‘Reeves’ lower rated than would be expected.
The trained panel also found the flavour quality of ‘Reeves’ to be medium to poor, while this panel rated the flavour of ‘Avalon’ as significantly better than the flavour of ‘Victoria’.
Of these new cultivars ‘Excalibur’, ‘Jubileum’ and ‘Avalon’ are as good as or better than the standard cultivar ‘Victoria’. The fruit quality of ‘Reeves’ is poorer than ‘Victoria’.

VIII International Symposium on Plum and Prune Genetics, Breeding and Pomology

E. Vangdal, S. Flatland, S.H. Hjeltnes, H. Sivertsen

soluble solids content, titratable acidity, flavour, appearance

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2007.734.20