EVALUATION OF COMMERCIAL AND CONSUMER QUALITIES OF RASPBERRY FRUITS

The objective of the study is to examine raspberry varieties for commercial and consumer qualities of fruits in order to identify new sources of economically valuable traits. The study was carried out at the collection plot of the Kokino base station of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Federal Scientific Center of Horticulture in 2020–2023. Raspberry fruits were assessed for the following commercial and consumer qualities: average berry weight, strength, soluble dry matter content, appearance, and taste. The objects of the study were 12 raspberry varieties added to the collection in 2015–2020. The Lavina variety of our own selection was chosen as a control. The study was carried out according to generally accepted methods. Based on the average berry weight, the varieties were divided into three groups: small (up to 2.5 g), medium (2.5–3.5 g), large (3.6–5.0 g), and very large (more than 5.0 g). The following gradation was used for the strength of the fruit: very soft (crushing force up to 3.0 N), soft (3.0–5.0 N), medium strength (5.1–7.0 N), strong (7.1–9.0 N), and very strong (more than 9.0 N). Soluble dry matter (SDM) was determined using a portable refractometer Master-α. Taste qualities were determined by tasting in points from 1 to 5, where 5 means excellent, dessert taste, with aroma. The appearance of fruits was assessed visually by the brightness of color, shine of the skin, uniformity of drupes and symmetry. New sources of increased manifestation of individual signs and properties of fruit quality were identified. The largest berries (more than 4.0 g) are formed by the Chemainus and Radziejowa varieties. The greatest strength of fruits, approaching the minimum values of suitability of the variety for mechanized harvesting (7.0 N), is characteristic of the Tadmor, Sokolica, Chemainus varieties. The varieties Benefis, Myadovaya and Yarkaya are characterized by an increased accumulation of soluble dry substances (more than 10 %). The most attractive fruits of a conical shape, bright or dark crimson color with shine have the varieties Yarkaya, Chemainus, Sokolica, Radziejowa, Glen Ample, Cascade Delight, Glen Magna. A harmonious combination of sugar and acid, as well as the presence of raspberry aroma are characteristic of the varieties Uslada, Myadovaya and Yarkaya.