Fruit Quality Traits of Two Apricot Cultivars

In this trial we evaluated physical and chemical fruit quality traits and sensory profile of two late-ripening apricot cultivars ‘Vitillo’ and ‘Pellecchiella’. Fruits were harvested at full maturation in three different pickings, at 4 day intervals, to ensure the same fruit quality. To verify quality among different pickings, weight, diameter, soluble solid content, titratable acidity, pH, colour were recorded. To describe and quantify the sensory characteristics of apricot fruits a panel of 10 judges generated 16 descriptors. For each of these attributes judges assigned a score from 1 to 9. Qualitative and sensory data for each attribute were submitted to one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with samples as effects. The results show significant differences in fruit quality characteristics among the different pickings.