Some indicators of the quality and cold storage of the fruit of new scab immune columnar apple cultivars

Abstract

The qualitative indicators of the fruits of new scab-immune columnar apple cultivars selected by VNIISPK ('Vostorg', 'Zvezda', 'Poezia', 'Priokskoe' and 'Sozvezdie') were analyzed at the beginning and end of storage in the +2°C mode with parallel monitoring of weather conditions for 4 years of the research. The influence of meteorological conditions of the growing season on some components of the commercial quality of fruits and their storage life was noted. The most favorable conditions were formed in the years with optimal moisture of the growing season (hydrothermal coefficient (HTC) at the level of 1.0). The longest storage life was observed in 'Zvezda Efira'–135 days, the shortest storage life was in 'Poetry'–102 days. The yield of commercial fruits at the end of storage varied between 76.2% ('Vostorg') and 92.1% ('Sozvezdie'). In 2018, anthracnose of fruits was recorded for the first time in 'Vostorg', 'Poezia' and 'Priokskoye'. The genotypic resistance of fruits was observed to bitter pit (excluding 'Zvezda Efira'), low-temperature breakdown of the pulp, in 'Zvezda Efira' and 'Poezia'–to scald. The susceptibility to senescent breakdown of fruits was observed in all of the cultivars. 'Sozvezdie' was resistant to physiological disorders. There was a decrease in the content of sugars and organic acids and an increase in the value of the sugar-acid index in fruits at the end of storage.