title: Sensory and metabolic profiles of "Fuji" apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) grown without synthetic agrochemicals: the role of ethylene production.
abstract: Flavors of "Fuji" apple cultivated with or without synthetic agrochemicals were compared using quantitative descriptive analyses (QDA) and metabolite profiling for 3 seasons. Experimental plots included conventional crops (with agrochemicals) and organic crops (without agrochemicals) at our institute and organic and conventional farms. Additionally, mass market samples were analyzed. Organic apples were weak in sweetness and floral characteristics and had enhanced green and sour flavors. Most esters and sugars were present in lower concentrations in organic than in conventional apples. Close relation of principal component 1 of QDA and metabolite profiles, to ethylene production suggested that ethylene is considerably involved in flavor synthesis. Reduced ethylene associated with immaturity accounted for insufficient flavor synthesis and weak aroma and flavor attributes of organic apples. Furthermore, organic apples from the farm were more flavorsome than those from the institute in 2012, suggesting possible recovery of ethylene production after a long organic cultivation period.
authors.affiliation: a NARO Agricultural Research Center , Tsukuba , Japan.
authors.forename: Fukuyo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: b Ogawa & Co. Ltd , Urayasu , Japan.
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyazawa
authors.affiliation: a NARO Agricultural Research Center , Tsukuba , Japan.|c NARO Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center , Sapporo , Japan.
authors.forename: Keiki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okazaki
authors.affiliation: d NARO Institute of Fruit Science , Tsukuba , Japan.
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tatsuki
authors.affiliation: e NARO Institute of Fruit Science , Morioka , Japan.
authors.forename: Tsutae
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D027845:Malus / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D058871:Organic Agriculture; D013649:Taste
chemical_list: D005030:Ethylenes; C036216:ethylene
keywords: GC/MS profiling; QDA; apple flavor; ethylene; organic cultivation