Physicochemical characterisation of two Japanese plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) cultivars grown in South-Western Romania

Cristina Paula Săpoi (Gheorghe); Alexandru Radu Corbu; Nicolae Gheorghiu; Violeta Nour

doi:10.35219/foodtechnology.2025.2.06

Cristina Paula Săpoi (Gheorghe) Faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Dunărea de Jos University of Galati, 111 Domnească Street, 800201 Galati, Romania; Department of Horticulture & Food Science, University of Craiova, 13 AI Cuza Street, 200585 Craiova, Romania https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3526-7197
Alexandru Radu Corbu Department of Horticulture & Food Science, University of Craiova, 13 AI Cuza Street, 200585 Craiova, Romania https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6859-1981
Nicolae Gheorghiu Department of Horticulture & Food Science, University of Craiova, 13 AI Cuza Street, 200585 Craiova, Romania https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2147-2636
Violeta Nour Department of Horticulture & Food Science, University of Craiova, 13 AI Cuza Street, 200585 Craiova, Romania https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9904-0157

DOI: https://doi.org/10.35219/foodtechnology.2025.2.06

Keywords: Japanese plum cultivars, phenolic acids, flavonoids, organic acids, antioxidant activity

Abstract

In the present study, two Japanese plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) cultivars grown in a collection orchard in Oltenia (South-Western Romania), namely Eldorado and Methley, were evaluated for their geometrical, physical, nutritional and antioxidant properties. In addition, phenolic compounds, organic acids and vitamin C contents were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography in fruit flesh and peel. Methley had larger fruits with higher pulp ratio as compared with Eldorado, however Methley plums had lower dry matter, soluble solids content and titratable acidity. Total phenolic content was higher in Eldorado plums as compared with Methley plums, both in fruit flesh (143.82 mg/100 g and 129.27 mg/100 g, respectively) and peel (572.14 mg/100 g and 536.44 mg/100 g, respectively). The analysis of phenolic compounds indicated that rutin was the dominant flavonoid in the peel of both cultivars (76.10 mg/100 g in Methley and 51.63 mg/100 g in Eldorado), followed by epicatechin or catechin hydrate, depending on cultivar. Chlorogenic acid was the major phenolic acid in flesh, its content was higher in the flesh of Methley plums (2.31 mg/100 g) as compared with Eldorado (1.79 mg/100 g). In terms of organic acids content, malic acid was predominant, followed by citric or tartaric acids, depending on cultivar. The nutritional and bioactive properties of Eldorado and Methley Japanese plum cultivars make them suitable to be grown in the agroecological conditions of South-Western Romania.

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