CHEMICAL AND SENSORY QUALITY OF STRAWBERRY CULTIVARS USED IN ORGANIC CULTIVATION

The chemical and sensory qualities of organically cultivated strawberries (Fragaria ananassa, cultivars Jonsok, Polka, Honeoye) from the Northern Savo region of Finland were studied in 1997 and 1998. Both in 1997 and 1998 the cultivar Honeoye had the highest C-vitamin content (90.4 and 75.2 mg/100 g). The sugar content of Polka (8.1 g/100 g) differed significantly (p<0,01) from Jonsok (6.4 g/100 g) in 1997. There was also variation between years; dry matter and sugar content were significantly (p<0.01, p<0.05) higher in 1997 than in 1998, when the summer was more wet.
The pH of the three cultivars varied from 3.2 to 3.5 in both years.
The C-vitamin content was found to be stable during seven days of storage at +5 ^oC (1998). The principal component analysis (PCA) of the sensory data showed, that in 1997 and 1998 the cultivar Polka was sweeter and has a stronger strawberry taste of longer duration than Jonsok and Honeoye.
In contrast Honeoye and Jonsok had a more acidic taste and Jonsok in particular had a more moist texture.
In 1997 storage had a clear effect.
The strawberries were more sweet with stronger strawberry taste on day 0 and 1. After 2 and 3 days of storage Jonsok and Honeoye had a more moist texture, while the sensory quality of Polka remained stable.
In 1998 there was a clear effect of cultivars, Polka being sweetest and having stronger strawberry taste.
Honeoye was a little less sweet and had weaker strawberry taste than Polka.
Jonsok had a more moist texture, the taste was more acidic, less sweet and had weak strawberry taste.

IV International Strawberry Symposium

M. Leskinen, H.-M. Väisänen, J. Vestergaard

organic, strawberry, quality, Jonsok, Polka, Honeoye

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.567.112