Large‐scale phenotyping of physical and antioxidant traits in peach and apricot cultivars

BACKGROUND: Peach and apricot are valued for their sensory attributes and nutritional value; however large-scale evaluations of fruit quality and antioxidant-related traits remain limited. This study aimed to quantify phenotypic diversity and examine relationships between fruit quality and antioxidant traits in 100 peach and 32 apricot cultivars grown under the same experimental conditions. RESULTS: Substantial phenotypic diversity was observed for fruit quality and antioxidant traits. Total phenolic contents showed the greatest variation, differing by up to approximately sevenfold among peach and apricot cultivars, while high-antioxidant genotypes were relatively rare. Commercially important cultivars with high antioxidant contents were identified, highlighting potential value for health-oriented markets; of the most widely used cultivars it was 'Andross' and 'Big Top' that may be considered for having high nutritional importance to consumers. Ripening date was only correlated with antioxidant content in nectarine and apricot, indicating that it should not be regarded as a universal predictor of antioxidant accumulation. Juiciness, an important quality trait, varied nearly twofold in both species. Associations among peel and flesh color traits differed among fruit types. Multivariate analyses distinguished cultivar groups, with French-origin apricot cultivars associated with higher antioxidant content, later ripening, and higher ripening index, whereas Greek-origin cultivars clustered separately with generally lower antioxidant levels and reduced peel coloration. CONCLUSION: The observed diversity provides valuable opportunities for selecting cultivars with desirable sensory attributes and high nutritional value, thereby supporting the development of targeted fruit ideotypes and providing guidance for nutritionally aware consumers. © 2026 The Author(s). Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.