Influence of rootstocks on nutritional composition of pear fruits
Pear is a fruit of great importance for human nutrition due to the organoleptic characteristics and nutritional composition.
Its cultivation in Uruguay generally uses rootstocks for adaptation to the soil, productiveness and precociousness, but rootstock selection may also influence fruit quality, with the ability to change its chemical composition.
The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of rootstocks on some physicochemical and nutritional compounds of 'Williams' pear, grafted on six rootstocks (EMC, BA29, OH×F333, OH×F40, OH×F69 and Adams) in Uruguayan production conditions.
The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with four replicates located in an orchard at INIA-Las Brujas Experimental Station.
At harvest, 20 fruits were sampled per replicate, conditioned in a cold chamber and then at room temperature until consumer maturation.
Soluble solids content, titratable acidity, color and texture were evaluated and then fruit peel and pulp were separated for determination of ascorbic acid and minerals contents.
As a result, in relation to the soluble solids, titratable acidity, color and texture, no differences were found between the rootstocks.
For ascorbic acid content, no significant differences between rootstocks were found, but the concentration was higher in the fruit peel than pulp.
The highest phosphorus content was found in the pulp, but calcium and magnesium contents were higher in the peel.
The OH×F40 and OH×F69 rootstocks provided higher phosphorus and zinc contents and the boron content was higher in fruits of plants grafted on OH×F40 rootstock.
As a conclusion, rootstocks influenced the nutritional content of 'Williams' pear fruits under Uruguayan cultivation conditions, which makes it possible to select a more convenient rootstock in terms of production and to contribute with a greater amount of nutrient in fruits.
Lugaresi, A., Álvarez, A.L., Rodríguez, P., Cabrera, D. and Ibáñez, F. (2021). Influence of rootstocks on nutritional composition of pear fruits. Acta Hortic. 1303, 509-514
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2021.1303.69
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2021.1303.69
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2021.1303.69
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2021.1303.69
Pyrus communis, quality, minerals, ascorbic acid
English