Fruit Quality Phytochemical and Diversity Studies of Apricot Prunus armeniaca L along an Altitudinal Gradient in Trans Himalayan Ladakh India

Abstract

Apricot (PrunusarmeniacaL.) is the 3rd most economically important stone fruit crops in the world. Apricots of trans-Himalayan Ladakh are known for its quality. Fruit with white stone, locally called RaktseyKarpo, are known for its sweetness. The present study demonstrated that fruit with white stone phenotype can be considered as easily identifying a marker for quality apricots. Genetic component influencing apricots quality is well known. However, there is limited information on the environmental effect on fruit quality. Therefore, this investigation aimed at studying the influence of altitude on phenological and fruit quality characters of apricot genotypes. Fruits were sampled from villages located at an elevation ranging from 3006 to 3346 meter asl in Ladakh. The altitude had a significant effect on the date of flowering, fruit weight, moisture, and TSS content. For every 100 meter rise in elevation, flowering and fruit ripening delayed by 3.3 and 7.1 days, respectively. The fruit TSS increased by 1.2ºBrix for every 100 meter rise in elevation. Total fruit sugar increased by 64.8 mg.g-1 DW for every 100 meter rise in elevation. The trend of each sugar in apricots was not affected by environmental factors. However, the relative proportion of sorbitol increased with rise in elevation. Altitudinal gradient had marked influence on kernel sugar content but no significant effect was observed on kernel amygdalin content. The knowledge generated from the present investigation provides guidance for selecting site for orchard establishment for improving apricot fruit quality. newline