Effect of Cultivar and Year on Mineral Components of Apples

The influence of cultivar and crop year on mineral components of apple fruits was investigated using three cultivars cultivated at Morioka Branch, Fruit Tree Research Station in 1980 to 1982. The mineral components measured were 9 elmemts, i.e. sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, and phosphorus. The potassium, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorus contents were affected significantly by cultivar and crop year, and the sodium content by crop year on dry basis. The content in ash was not affected by cultivar in all minerals except manganese. On the other hand, the potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus contents in ash were affected significantly by crop year. The phosphorus content in 1982, drying year, was particularly low and differed significantly with that in 1980 and 1981. Crop year was more influencial than crop tree in the mineral content of 3 cultivars. As to the cultivar, Ralls Janet was significantly higher than Starking Delicious and Golden Delicious in the sodium, manganese, and phosphorus contents. (Received Aug. 8, 1990)