QUALITY OF SOME ROMANIAN CULTIVARS IN CORRELATION WITH CONSUMER PREFERENCES

Abstract

The fruit quality is a complex of characteristics and traits, such as: fruit size, skin colour, the content of sugar, acids, vitamins, mineral substances, flesh consistence and succulence, flavor, etc. The objective of this study was to analyze fruit quality of apple, pear, plum, sweet and sour cherry cultivars in correlation with consumer preferences. The study was carried out at Genetics and Breeding Department of Research Institute of Fruit Growing Pitesti, Romania on 17 new cultivars of different fruit tree species: 4 apple cultivars (‘Romus 3’, ‘Romus 4’, ‘Rebra’ and ‘Rustic’), 4 pear cultivars (‘Monica’, ‘Paramis’, ‘Paradise’ and ‘Isadora’), 4 plum cultivars (‘Romanta’, ‘Romaner’, ‘Roman’ and ‘Agent’), 3 sweet cherry cultivars (‘Severin’, ‘Daria’ and ‘Superb’) and 2 sour cherry cultivars (‘Rival’ and ‘Tarina’). The following determinations were carried out: fruit size by weighing, flesh firmness with penetrometer non-destructive Qualitest, soluble solids content with digital refractometer and malic, citric and tartaric acids content with Minititrator Hanna Instrument, such as sensory evaluation of fruits using a scale from 1 (very low) to 9 (very good). The results have revealed that Romanian varieties were distinguished by the highest quality fruits. Thus, on the apple, ‘Rebra’ cv. has been distinguished by its large fruit, firmness and balanced taste. ‘Isadora’ pear variety can complement the winter assortment, being a variety of large and firm fruit. At plum, ‘Romanta’ cv. can be expanded in commercial culture for fresh consumption, and the ‘Agent’ variety for processing. ‘Daria’ sweet cherry cv. and ‘Rival’ sour cherry cv. have shown large and attractive fruits. These results could useful for breeders, farmers and market