POMOLOGICAL PROPERTIES AND POLYPHENOL CONTENT OF CONVENTIONAL AND TRADITIONAL APPLE CULTIVARS FROM CROATIA

Pomological properties and polyphenol content of six traditional and six conventional apple varieties from Croatia were studied. The highest fruit weight, height and width were measured in conventional apple cultivar, ‘Red Delicious’, and the lowest in traditional apple cultivar, ‘Adamčica’. The highest content of soluble dry matter was measured in ‘Zlatna Zimska Parmenka’ (16.70%) and the lowest in ‘Mutsu’ (11.30%). The pH (3.90) value was highest in ‘Red Delicious’ and the lowest (3.12) in ‘Zlatna Zimska Parmenka’. Total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity were on the highest level in traditional apple cultivar, ‘Adamčica’ 499.58 mg/100 g FW and 418.83 mmol trolox/L, respectively. Traditional apple varieties grown in local areas have so far been largely unexplored considering pomological and physicochemical properties. However, they might represent an important source of bioactive compounds and constitute the basis for further breeding. This research showed that traditional apple varieties are rich in polyphenols and have high antioxidant activity even higher than those found in conventional varieties. Due to the diversity of pomological properties and polyphenol content, it is important to preserve traditional apple varieties as a source of genetic variability as well as a factor of biodiversity of the area where they grow