Published in Scientific Papers. Series B, Horticulture, Vol. LXVIV, Issue 2
Written by Mariana RUSU, Iuliana MOTRESCU, Irina-Gabriela CARA, Denis ȚOPA, Gerard JITĂREANU
This study investigated plum cultivar 'Centenar' (Prunus domestica L.) from an orchard located in north-eastern Romania, using high-precision techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The research aimed to characterize the structural and chemical dynamics of the fruits during three phenological stages: early growth phase (BBCH 71), ripening phase (BBCH 74), and maturity (BBCH 89), in relation to the use of conventional methods and treatments. FTIR analysis allowed the identification of chemical composition variations, particularly in the content of polysaccharides, pectins, and phenolic compounds, illustrating the impact of treatments and growth stage on the biochemical profile. In addition, SEM allowed a detailed observation of fruit microstructure, revealing differences in cell integrity, a factor correlated with mechanical durability and post-harvest keeping capacity. This study’s results provide particularly valuable insights into the interactions between the applied treatments and fruit quality, contributing to the development of optimized agricultural strategies for plum cultivation under specific pedoclimatic conditions.
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