- The Welsh proverb “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is a familiar saying that rings true.
This proverb demonstrates that not just apples but fruit is good for one’s health.
More specifically, we know that polyphenols are found in apples and other fruits and contribute to good health.
What is less known or understood is how the growing season can change the amount of phytochemicals in apples.
A study was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry to determine how the growing season can change the amount of polyphenols and other phytochemicals in red apples.
Here are the study details
– The apples selected included the Red Sun and Redlove Era – These are commercialized in the European Union.
– Apples were harvested from 6 year old trees
– Apples were harvested in Autumn at the same harvesting stages
– Apples were processed and harvested were analyzed by UPLC (ultra high performance liquid chromatography)
Here are the results
– The total phenolic content in the apple flesh from 2015 was higher than that from 2016 probably related with the lower rainfall during the harvest period in 2015 that could have favored hydric stress in the apple trees.
– The 2016 season was characterized by higher maximum and minimum temperatures resulting in a higher content of flavonols, triterpenes, and organic acids.
– Anthocyanin concentration in both the flesh and skin of the red-fleshed apples showed no clear – relationship to the season, and each variety showed an individual pattern.
Here are some comments by the authors of the study
The total phenolic content in the apple flesh from 2015 was higher than that in 2016 in all the apple varieties included in the study.
And
When data from two seasons were compared, a significant interaction with the season was observed in some of the variables studied.
Do the growing and post-harvest conditions change the antioxidant levels in cabbage and kale?
Take away message
It should be clear that the growing conditions will help determine the amount of phytochemicals fruit including apples. What was interesting about this was that the 2015 had less water available than 2016 for the fruit during the harvest season. In these situations, the plant is responding to the stressful conditions by producing more polyphenols to help the fruit survive.
This is a common defense mechanism and occurs in many plants. This is why some plants thrive in stressful conditions with what would typically be considered poor soil or environmental conditions. Examples could also include Mediterranean herbs like rosemary, basil, sage, oregano which do well in a tough environment.
Reference
Bars-Contina D et al. Seasonal Variability of the Phytochemical Composition of New Red-Fleshed Apple Varieties Compared with Traditional and New White-Fleshed Varieties. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2018; Volume 66 (Issue 38): pages 10011-10025.
His research on plant medicine has led to more than 45 publications and abstracts.This research has been presented at international meetings in the USA, France, Turkey, Peru, Israel, Austria, and Italy.
Categories: Antioxidant, Food, Growing conditions