Paper Details

PJB-2025-62

Determination of the optimal harvest time of two common apricot cultivars (Prunus armeniaca L.) by physicochemical and sensory methods

 

Ersin Gulsoy, Emrah Kus, Betul Tan, Duried Alwazeer and Kadir Tan
Abstract

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This study aimed to determine the optimal harvest time for two apricot cultivars (cv. Hacıhaliloğlu and Kabaaşı) by evaluating physical, chemical, and sensory changes during a 13-week ripening period. Fruit samples were collected at 7-day intervals throughout the study. Parameters such as weight, length, width, thickness, sphericity, color (L*, a*, b*), color indices, soluble solids content (SSC), pH, firmness, elasticity, phenolic content (gallic acid and catechin), and organic acids (citric acid and ascorbic acid) were evaluated. According to the results, a steady increase in physical properties was observed in both cultivars during ripening. Color values (L*, a*, b*) became brighter and more saturated as ripening progressed. The sugar-to-acid ratio increased in the later weeks, accompanied by an increase in pH and a decrease in titratable acidity. SSC generally increased but decreased slightly in the last weeks. Both organic acids (citric and ascorbic acid) and phenolic compounds (gallic acid and catechin) tended to decrease during ripening. While citric acid content in cv. Kabaaşı decreased significantly in the last week, it remained at a higher level in cv. Hacıhaliloğlu. These results indicate that the 12^th week of ripening represents the optimal harvest time for both apricot cultivars to achieve maximum quality and full ripeness

To Cite this article: Gulsoy, E., E. Kus, B. Tan, D. Alwazeer and K. Tan. 2025. Determination of the optimal harvest time of two common apricot cultivars (Prunus armeniaca L.) by physicochemical and sensory methods. Pak. J. Bot., 58(2): DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30848/PJB2026-2(22)  
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