ROOTSTOCK AFFECTS APPLE FRUIT BIOCHEMICAL CONTENT: PRELIMINARY RESULTS

The effect of apple rootstocks on fruit internal quality parameters were tested at the Institute of Horticulture, Lithuanian Reserach Centre for Agriculture and Forestry from 2010 to 2011. Twelve apple rootstocks: M.26, M.9, P 22, P 59, P 61, P 62, P 66, P 67, B.9, B.396 (original name 62-396), PB.4 (Belarusian selection) and Pure 1 (Latvian selection) were tested with scion cv. "Auksis". Significant differences between rootstocks were found for all analysed characteristics. The highest solube solid content was found in fruits grown on PB.4 rootstock; the lowest on M.26. The highest fruit ascorbic acid content was found in fruit grown on the rootstocks B.9, Pure 1 and P 67. Significantly higher total polyphenol content was detected in fruits on P.67 rootstock. A high correlation between polyphenol content and antiradical activity was established. Rootstock had a minor effect on fruit firmness, but affected fruit skin firmness, which was the lowest on M.9.