Influence of rootstocks on the chemical composition of the fruits of plum cultivars

Abstract

This paper presents the chemical composition of the fruits of three European plum cultivars ('Cacanska Rana', 'Cacanska Lepotica', and 'Cacanska Najbolja') grafted on four rootstocks (Myrobalan, 'Pixy', Fereley', and 'St Julien A'). The rootstock/cultivar combinations significantly influenced the content of most of the phenolic compounds in the plum skin and flesh. The total anthocyanin content in the skin ranged from 1.87 to 7.33 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside g(-1) fresh weight. The major phenolic compound in the skin was rutin, which ranged from 95 to 238 mg kg(-1), while in the flesh, cinnamic acid and catechin were dominant. The total sugar content in the fruit ranged from 66.2-147 mg g(-1). The highest glucose and fructose contents were in `Cacanska Lepotica', then in `Cacanska Najbolja', and the lowest were in `Cacanska Rana' cultivar. The highest contents of glucose and sucrose were found in fruits from trees grafted on Myrobalan rootstock, and the lowest in fruits from trees grafted on 'St Julien A' rootstock. The rootstocks significantly influenced the potassium, calcium, and copper contents in the plum fruit. The results of this study demonstrate the significant effect of rootstocks on the phenolic and sugar profiles, and on the mineral content of the plum fruits.