Effects of different management systems on fruit quality in Mediterranean tree orchards

In recent years, consumer demands changed in favor of healthier foods, paying attention to nutritional properties in addition to attractive qualities, such as color, shape and flavor. Fruits are a source of macro and micronutrients, vitamins, polyphenols and antioxidant compounds, which determine their nutritional value. Different agricultural practices and management systems can influence the fruit quality, improving fruit color and increasing macronutrients, micronutrients, anthocyanins and polyphenols contents. The antioxidant capacity, as well as fruit size, dry matter and Soluble Solid Content (SSC) can be influenced by several fruit orchard managements. In this study, different management strategies, which were carried out in each experimental field, and their effects on fruit quality were evaluated. Field experiments were conducted in yellow-fleshed kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis), apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) and grape (Vitis vinifera L. cv. Midnight Beauty) orchards, located in southern Italy, to evaluate the potential benefits of different agronomic practices and orchard management on fruit quality. Nutritional compounds, Soluble Solid Content (SSC), polyphenols and antioxidant activity were measured in fruits. The antioxidant activity was determined through the Free Radical Diphenylpicrylhydrazyl-DPPH and the Ferric Antioxidant Power- FRAP methods. Results revealed that the application of different agricultural interventions/agronomic practices and different orchard managements could effectively affect fruit quality traits, ensuring high yields and improving fruit nutritional quality.