INFLUENCE OF PLANTING MATERIAL ORIGIN ON THE FRUIT QUALITY OF TWO RASPBERRY CULTIVARS ACROSS DIFFERENT HARVEST PERIODS

This research investigated the influence of propagation methods and harvesting time on the fruit quality of two raspberry cultivars, ‘Meeker’ and ‘Willamette’. The plants were propagated through tissue cultre and root suckering, and the fruits were picked during three harvest in 2020. The study analyzed soluble solids content (SSC), total sugars (TS), titratable acidity (TA), total phenolic and anthocyanin content (TPC and TAC), as well as antioxidant activity (AA). The results showed that SSC and TS increased as harvest progressed, while TA decreased. The ‘Meeker’ showed higher TS and SSC values, indicating a naturally sweeter fruit profile. Fruit of ‘Willamette’ cultivar propagated throught tissue culture had higher TAC and AA values. These findings highlight the impact of propagation technique on the accumulation of bioactive compounds in raspberry fruit. The results suggest that later harvests fruit with higher sugar content and antioxidant propertist, can be advantageous for both fresh consumption and processing.