Background: The aim of this study was to determine physical changes in nectarine and distinctive physiological characteristics related to red and green peel under stresses occurring during fruit maturation, information on which is currently not available.
Results: Fruit firmness increased from 4 to 6 weeks after blooming (WAB) then decreased from 6 WAB until ripening. Anthocyanins in red and green peel during nectarine maturation were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography as cyanidin 3-glucoside together and, at a much lower level, cyanidin 3-rutinoside. Cyanidins in red and green peel decreased from 4 to 8 WAB then increased from 8 to 12 WAB. Anthocyanin contents were positively correlated with PAL, POD, A*, MDA and O2(·-) values and inversely correlated with L* and B* values. Red and green peel during maturation could be separated by hierarchical cluster analysis of the tested data.
Conclusion: This study has provided an overview of red and green peel characteristics during nectarine (cv. Hu018) maturation. Values of A*, anthocyanins, O2(·-), MDA, PAL, PPO and POD in red peel were higher than those in green peel, while values of L*, B* and chroma in red peel were lower than those in green peel throughout fruit maturation.
Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry.