Segregation of apricot accessions on the basis of fruit quality attributes / Segregação de genótipos de damasco na base das características quantitativas do fruto

The objective of this study was to characterize the European apricot germplasm that was collected in Cacak and Smederevo region, Central Serbia. Fifteen physical, chemical and sensorial traits were investigated in this germplasm consisting 14 accessions during a two year period. High variations were recorded in fruit weight, soluble solids content, ripening index, index of sweetness and total mineral mater, whereas variations in stone weight, titratable acidity and total sugars were smaller. Most of the accessions had large fruits with weight ≥60 g; two accessions had a fruit weight ≥80 g. Generally, fruits had a good aroma, firm flesh, orange and yellow flesh and skin color, respectively, and sweet kernel taste. High correlations were found between some evaluated properties. The accessions were grouped into four clusters according to their potential. Using a principal component analysis, accessions were segregated into groups with similar physical, chemical and sensorial properties. These relationships may help in selection of a set of accessions with better fruit quality performances, which, in our study, were found in T-1, T-2, T-10, T-13 and T-14.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of bitter and sweet apricot (Prunus armeniaca L. ) kernels

The present study describes the in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of methanol and water extracts of sweet and bitterapricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) kernels. The antioxidant properties of apricot kernels were evaluated by determining radicalscavenging power, lipid peroxidation inhibition activity and total phenol content measured with a DPPH test, the thiocyanatemethod and the Folin method, respectively. In contrast to extracts of the bitter kernels, both the water and methanol extracts ofsweet kernels have antioxidant potential. The highest percent inhibition of lipid peroxidation (69%) and total phenolic content (7.9± 0.2 μg/mL) were detected in the methanol extract of sweet kernels (Hasanbey) and in the water extract of the same cultivar,respectively. The antimicrobial activities of the above extracts were also tested against human pathogenic microorganismsusing a disc-diffusion method, and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of each active extract were determined. Themost effective antibacterial activity was observed in the methanol and water extracts of bitter kernels and in the methanol extractof sweet kernels against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, the methanol extracts of the bitterkernels were very potent against the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (0.312 mg/mL MIC value). Significant anti-candidaactivity was also observed with the methanol extract of bitter apricot kernels against Candida albicans, consisting of a 14 mm indiameter of inhibition zone and a 0.625 mg/mL MIC value.