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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wenatchee, Washington » Physiology and Pathology of Tree Fruits Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #240965
Title: Quantification and histochemical localization of ascorbic acid in 'Delicious', 'Golden Delicious', and 'Fuji' apple fruit during on-tree development and cold storage

Author
item FELICETTI, ERIN - Washington State University
item Mattheis, James

Submitted to: Postharvest Biology and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/6/2009
Publication Date: 4/1/2010
Citation: Felicetti, E., Mattheis, J.P. 2010. Quantification and histochemical localization of ascorbic acid in 'Delicious', 'Golden Delicious', and 'Fuji' apple fruit during on-tree development and cold storage. Postharvest Biology and Technology. 56:56-63.

Interpretive Summary: Apples are a good source of dietary vitamin C. As the slow ripening characteristic of apples allows fruit to be stored for many months, this study was conducted to determine the stability of vitamin C during prolonged storage after havest. Three varieties, Delicious, Golden Delicious, and Fuji, were evaluated. The results indicated differences between varieties in vitamin C content existed at harvest with Delicious having the highest amount. The amount of vitamin C present in all varieties decreased slowly but persisted throughout the storage period. The results show vitamin C is present in significant quantities throughout the marketing period these three apple varieties

Technical Abstract: Apple fruit are subject to multiple stressors during pre- and post-harvest development. Stress-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) can be detrimental to the fruit, and ascorbic acid (AsA) is involved in many of the antioxidant pathways that detoxify ROS. An inclusive study to characterize AsA dynamics in ‘Delicious,’ ‘Golden Delicious,’ and ‘Fuji’ apples during pre- and post-harvest development was performed. AsA was quantified in fruit harvested prior to, at, and following attainment of physiological maturity. Fruit harvested at physiological maturity was stored in air at 0.5 oC and AsA was monitored at monthly intervals. AsA content in peel exceeded that in cortex for all cultivars at all sampling points. AsA in cortex declined early in fruit development and remained low relative to peel throughout development and storage. During development there was a slight increase in the quantity of AsA at physiological maturity, which correlates with an increase in internal ethylene. ‘Delicious’ apples harvested at 161 days after full bloom (DAFB) had the highest quantity of AsA, followed by ‘Golden Delicious’ at 149 DAFB and ‘Fuji’ at 178 DAFB. AsA localization in fruit sections stained with silver nitrate supported the analytical data obtained via HPLC and revealed AsA localizes to the core line and vascular bundles later in fruit development, and this pattern continues during cold storage.