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Research article2016Peer reviewed

Factors affecting the content of the ursolic and oleanolic acid in apple peel: influence of cultivars, sun exposure, storage conditions, bruising and Penicillium expansum infection

Lv, Yanrong; Tahir, Ibrahim I.; Olsson, Marie E.

Abstract

BACKGROUND

For health promotion and as part of natural plant protection, it might be of interest to increase the content of oleanolic acid (OA) and ursolic acid (UA) by biofortification in breeding programs, although the extent of the influence of genetic and environmental factors needs to be clarified. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of cultivar, sun exposure, storage, bruising and fungal infection on the OA and UA content in apple peel.

RESULTS

Three apple cultivars with different ripening times-‘Discovery' (early), ‘Aroma' (middle) and ‘Gloster' (late)-were investigated. The content of OA and UA was mainly influenced by cultivar and side subjected to sun exposure, and to a minor extent by storage and seasonal year. ‘Gloster' had the highest OA and UA content of the investigated cultivars. OA and UA content on the shaded side was higher than that on the sun-exposed side in all three cultivars. Inoculation with Penicillium expansum did not have any consistent effect on OA or UA, except in a few cases where the levels decreased.

CONCLUSION

OA and UA content can be increased by choice of cultivar in the breeding process and to some extent by cultural practice.

Keywords

apple; oleanolic acid; ursolic acid; triterpene; cultivars; fruit exposure side; bruising; health

Published in

Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture
2016, volume: 96, number: 6, pages: 2161-2169
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

SLU Authors

Associated SLU-program

SLU Plant Protection Network

UKÄ Subject classification

Horticulture

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.7332

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/72333