ISHS Acta Horticulturae 818: I International Symposium on Pomegranate and Minor Mediterranean Fruits
CHARACTERISATION OF THREE QUINCE CLONES (CYDONIA OBLONGA MILL.) NATIVE TO SOUTHEASTERN SPAIN |
| Authors: | I. Rodríguez-Guisado, P. Melgarejo, F. Hernández, J.J. Martínez, R. Martínez-Font, P. Legua |
| Keywords: | Quince tree, Cydonia oblonga, fruit, acidity, maturity index, taste |
| Abstract:
Though quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) is no longer a popular fruit tree species in Spain, it is still the most important rootstock for pear cultivation. Since native plant material has almost disappeared, it would be interesting to evaluate abandoned quince trees and orchards and propagate this plant material under homogeneous conditions. Clones MB 1, MB 2 and MB 5 were selected and evaluated for the period 2002-2004. Physical parameters as weight, height and equatorial fruit diameters were assessed along with other morphological ones established by the U.P.O.V. (The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants). Then several tests were conducted to evaluate fruit firmness, juice content and other chemical and organoleptic traits. The average fruit weight ranged from 194.01 g (clone MB 5) to 297.86 g (clone MB 2). Whereas clone MB 5 showed the lowest acid content (4.71 g/l of malic acid), MB 2 yielded an average content of 7.95 g/l of malic acid. Quince juice was analysed by HPLC, being fructose and glucose the main sugars. Regarding organic acids, malic and tartaric ones showed average contents of 0.78% and 0.22%, respectively. | |
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