Comparison of fruit biochemical and qualitative attributes of loquat genotypes (Eriobotrya japonica L.) of Gorgan

Loquat(Eriobotrya japonica L.) is used abundantly in the food, medical and pharmaceutical industries due to high levels of phenolic compounds and antioxidants and having anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. In order to study fruit qualitative traits, 20 loquat genotypes from different regions of Gorgan in Golestan province were selected. The fruits of the genotypes were collected at ripening stage in spring, 2014 and their biochemical and qualitative attributes were assessed. The means comparison showed that the total phenol of the genotypes varied between 131.95-316.55 µg gallic acid/g FW, total flavonoids 3.45-87.91 µg quercetin/g FW, antioxidant capacity 11.05-76.81 %, total carotenoid of fruit skin 3.64-18.39 and total carotenoid of fruit flesh was 0.24-5.08 µg/g FW. Therefore, total carotenoid of fruit flesh was less than fruit skin. Genotype 5 had the highest L* and b*. The results showed that the amount of glucose, fructose and sucrose was varied between 41.86-136.41, 16.04-51.26 and 0.07-0.63 mg/g 100 FW, respectively. In addition, the assessed genotypes had a white flesh and glucose was the dominant sugar. As a whole, genotypes 5, 14 and 9 had the highest content of phenolic, flavonoid and antioxidant capacity. In conclusion, the results of this research indicate the high content of secondary metabolites in the loquat fruit, thus the fruit can be more considered in food and medicinal industries.