Determination biochemical contents together with yield and fruit quality properties of selected superior crossbred apricot genotypes

This study was conducted on apricots bred as a result of the crossing studies which were performed for the purpose of breeding new early apricot cultivars as a part of "Multi Purpose Apricot Breeding Project" started at Inonu University Apricot Research and Application Center in 1999. For this aim, 11 hybrid genotypes obtained from crossing studies and 3 reference cultivars (Ninfa, Hasanbey, Dilbay) were compared in terms of fruit quality characteristics by cultivating at the same orchard. First and last blossom dates, fruit ripening periods were recorded and fruit quality traits such as fruit weight, kernel weight, flesh/kernel rate, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA) were determined as part of the study. Besides, common phenolic compounds of Gallic acid, Catechin, Chlorogenik acid, Epigallocatechin gallat, Epicatechin, Rutin, Naringin, Quercetin contents were examined in fruit samples of the genotypes. Significant statistical differences were found between genotypes in all traits included in the study. Days from full-blossom until fruit harvest varied between 74 days and 102 days for the genotypes evaluated in the study. In the selected genotypes, the results of physical parameters varied between 31.44 g and 72.54 g for fruit weight, 1.97 g and 3.75 g for kernel weight, 9.60 and 18.79 for flesh/kernel weight. On the other hand, results of chemical analyses varied between 10.07 % and 18.26% for TSS, 0.59 % and 1.77 % for TA. Cumulative variance of fruit weight, kernel weight, flesh/kernel rate, TSS and TA were calculated as 13.0 %, 12.7 %, 13.7%, 5.4 % and 10.9 %, respectively. As a result of this study, when compared with reference cultivars, 4 genotypes were found promising as new early apricot cultivars in terms of earliness and fruit quality characteristics.