Biochemical Changes during Fruit Development of Four Strawberry Cultivars

Abstract

As genetic factors affect strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) fruit development and quality, changes in metabolite concentrations were studied during fruit development of four strawberry cultivars grown in the field: three commercial cultivars (Capitola, Elsanta and Dover) and a genotype from Centre Interrégional de Recherche et d'Expérimentation de la Fraise, France (`CF1116'). Major and minor metabolites changed with development. The two strawberry cultivars with the highest starch content at early stages, `Capitola' and `Elsanta', also had the highest fruit weight at harvest. There was no correlation between strawberry weight and osmolarity. At maturity, significant differences were observed among cultivars for most of the metabolites studied. `Capitola' and `Elsanta' responded similarly for most measured variables. `CF1116' was characterized by high juice osmolarity and high sucrose, inositol, glutamine, arginine and alanine concentrations, and low citrate and malate concentrations. `Dover' was characterized by a high galactose concentration and low asparagine and alanine concentrations. Organic acid differences among cultivars appeared early during development, while differences in soluble sugars appeared during maturation. The developmental pattern of each amino acid varied among cultivars. Timing of the biochemical differences observed among cultivars provides some information on their metabolic origin.