Degree of deterioration of the chemical composition of apricot fruits caused by Sharka disease

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of Sharka disease on fruit weight, chemical composition and antioxidant activity of apricot fruit cv. ‘Precoce de Thyrinte’. During two consecutive years, the presence of PPV-M strain was determined on leaves and fruits. This strain decreased the content of soluble solids content (SSC), invert (IS), reducing (RS), sucrose (SU) and total sugars (TS), pigments (chlorophylls and total carotenoids), total phenolics (TPC), total flavonoids (TFC), ripening (RI) and sweetness indexes (SI) in infected trees. The effect of PPV-M strain on pH juice and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was not significant but increased ash content and both malic and citric acids. In general, a significantly greater deterioration in fruit quality was observed in the rainy 2023 year. However, the significant effect interaction viral status × year indicated the complex nature of the deterioration in fruit quality depending on PPV-M infection and weather conditions during fruit development and its maturity.