Effects of Altitude on Pomological Traits, Bioactive Composition, and Antioxidant Capacity of ‘Çataloğlu’ Apricot Cultivar

Abstract

Altitude exerts a decisive influence on the physicochemical and functional attributes of apricots, yet its effects on the traditional Malatya dried apricot cultivar ‘Çataloğlu’ remain less studied. In this study, fruits harvested in 2024 from commercial orchards in low-altitude Battalgazi (~730 m) and high-altitude Darende (~1150 m) were compared in terms of pomological traits, bioactive composition, and antioxidant capacity. Fruits grown at high altitude had greater fruit length, flesh firmness of 6.32 kg cm⁻², titratable acidity, soluble solids content of 24.12%, and higher a* redness values, whereas no altitude-related differences were found in some size and other color parameters (L* and b*). Flesh firmness at low altitude was 6.00 kg cm⁻² and soluble solids content was 22.49%. Bioactive analysis showed that total phenolic content reached 784.14 µg GAE g⁻¹ FW at high altitude compared to 481.60 µg GAE g⁻¹ FW at low altitude. Similarly, DPPH and ABTS antioxidant activities were higher at high altitude, measuring 15.31 and 2.94 µmol TE g⁻¹ FW, respectively, versus 8.51 and 1.24 µmol TE g⁻¹ FW at low altitude. In contrast, total carotenoid content was higher at low altitude with 8.15 µg β-carotene g⁻¹ FW, while high-altitude fruits contained 6.08 µg β-carotene g⁻¹ FW. These contrasting tendencies reflect altitude-driven microclimatic differences: cooler temperatures in uplands stimulate phenolic accumulation, whereas warmer lowland conditions promote carotenoid biosynthesis. The findings highlight a clear quality balance. High-altitude fruits stand out for their antioxidant potential and functional health value, whereas low-altitude fruits are notable for their higher carotenoid content and bright yellow-orange color. These results can guide cultivar and site selection according to market demands and consumer preferences. With its relative tolerance to spring frost and drought, ‘Çataloğlu’ could see increased cultivation in high-altitude orchards under future climate change scenarios.

Keywords

• Prunus armeniaca
• Elevation effects
• Fruit physicochemical properties
• Bioactive compounds
• Phenolics
• β-carotene
• Antioxidant activity

Rakımın ‘Çataloğlu’ Kayısı Çeşidinin Pomolojik Özellikleri, Biyoaktif Bileşimi ve Antioksidan Kapasitesi Üzerine Etkileri

Abstract

Rakım, kayısıların fizikokimyasal ve fonksiyonel özellikleri üzerinde belirleyici bir etkiye sahiptir. Bununla beraber, rakımın Malatya yöresinin geleneksel ve önemli kurutmalık kayısı çeşitlerinden ‘Çataloğlu’ üzerindeki etkileri yeterince araştırılmamıştır. Bu çalışmada, 2024 yılında düşük rakımlı Battalgazi (~730 m) ile yüksek rakımlı Darende (~1150 m) ilçelerinde bulunan ticari kayısı bahçelerinden hasat edilen meyveler, pomolojik özellikler, biyoaktif bileşim ve antioksidan kapasite açısından karşılaştırılmıştır. Yüksek rakımda yetiştirilen meyveler; meyve uzunluğu, meyve eti sertliği, titre edilebilir asitlik, suda çözünebilir kuru madde içeriği ve a* renk değerleri bakımından anlamlı derecede üstün bulunmuş, buna karşın bazı boyut ve diğer renk parametrelerinde (L* ve b*) rakıma bağlı fark tespit edilmemiştir. Meyve eti sertliği yüksek rakımda 6.32 kg cm⁻² iken düşük rakımda 6.00 kg cm⁻²; suda çözünebilir kuru madde yüksek rakımda %24.12, düşük rakımda %22.49 olarak belirlenmiştir. Biyoaktif bileşen analizleri, yüksek rakımda toplam fenolik madde içeriği ile DPPH ve ABTS antioksidan aktivitelerinin belirgin şekilde daha yüksek olduğunu, toplam karotenoid içeriğinin (β-karoten eşdeğeri) ise düşük rakımda daha fazla olduğunu göstermiştir. Toplam fenolik içerik, yüksek rakımda 784.14 µg GAE g⁻¹ YA (Yaş Ağırlık) iken düşük rakımda 481.60 µg GAE g⁻¹ YA; DPPH aktivitesi sırasıyla 15.31 ve 8.51 µmol TE g⁻¹ YA; ABTS aktivitesi 2.94 ve 1.24 µmol TE g⁻¹ YA olarak kaydedilmiştir. Toplam karotenoid içeriği ise düşük rakımda 8.15 µg β-karoten g⁻¹ YA, yüksek rakımda 6.08 µg β-karoten g⁻¹ YA düzeyindedir. Bu karşıt eğilimlerin, rakıma bağlı mikroklimatik farklılıkların bir yansıması olduğu değerlendirilmiştir. Yüksek rakımda düşük ortalama sıcaklıklar fenolik bileşiklerin birikimini, daha yüksek ortalama sıcaklıkların hüküm sürdüğü ova koşulları ise karotenoid biyosentezini teşvik etmektedir. Bulgular, belirgin bir kalite dengesi ortaya koymaktadır. Yüksek rakımda yetiştirilen meyveler, antioksidan potansiyel ve fonksiyonel sağlık değeri açısından öne çıkarken, düşük rakımda yetiştirilenler daha yüksek karotenoid içeriği ve sarı-turuncu renk canlılığı ile dikkat çekmektedir. Elde edilen veriler, tüketici tercihlerine ve pazarlama stratejilerine yönelik olarak farklı rakım kuşaklarında çeşit ve yetiştirme yeri seçiminde yol gösterici niteliktedir. İlkbahar geç donlarına ve kuraklığa karşı göreceli toleransı ile ‘Çataloğlu’ çeşidi, gelecekteki iklim değişikliği senaryolarında özellikle yüksek rakımlı bahçelerde yetiştiriciliği artabilecek bir çeşit olarak öne çıkmaktadır.

Keywords

• Prunus armeniaca
• Rakım etkisi
• Meyve fizikokimyasal özellikleri
• Biyoaktif bileşenler
• Fenolik maddeler
• β-carotene
• Antioksidan aktivite

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