ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY ATTRIBUTES OF THE APPLE CULTIVAR 'FUJI KIKU 8' GROWN IN NORTHERN GREECE

Productivity and fruit quality measurements were performed on the apple cultivars ‘Fuji Kiku 8’, ‘Red Kan’, and ‘Red Jonaprince’ in two orchards, for two consecutive years. During harvest, fruit firmness of the cultivar ‘Fuji Kiku 8’ was higher than ‘Jonaprince’, whereas it was not different than ‘Red Kan’. Total soluble solids and total sugars of the cultivar ‘Fuji Kiku 8’ was higher than ‘Jonaprince’ and ‘Red Kan’. Ascorbic acid content of the cultivar ‘Fuji Kiku 8’ was higher than ‘Jonaprince’. Thiault index (that correlates with fruit storability) of the cultivar ‘Fuji Kiku 8’ was higher than ‘Jonaprince’ and ‘Red Kan’. After six months in cold storage, fruit firmness and total soluble solids content of the cultivar ‘Fuji Kiku 8’ were higher than ‘Jonaprince’ and ‘Red Kan’. Nitrogen concentration of fruits of the cultivar ‘Fuji Kiku 8’ was higher than ‘Red Jonaprince’, whereas potassium concentration was lower. Dry matter of fruits of the cultivar ‘Fuji Kiku 8’ was higher than ‘Red Jonaprince’.