Metabolites and enzymes involved in the oxidative stress in freshly harvested fruits of sweet cherry germoplasm of Campania region

Fruit ripening is accompanied by a progressive increase in oxidative stress that is controlled by a related induction of the antioxidant free radical scavenging system. Dysfunctioning of such system in the later stages of ripening causes an increase of oxidation, that is the second most important factor of fruit decay besides microbial contamination. Production of fruits that preserve high antioxidant metabolites levels, could represent a way to delay fruit senescence and to preserve nutritional and nutraceutical characteristics, significantly saving fruits and costs. The study aims determine the level of antioxidant metabolites (vitamin C, glutathione, tocopherols, polyphenols) and enzymes (peroxidases and polyphenoloxidases) involved in the antioxidant system, in fruits of sweet cherry germoplasm of Campania region. Such data could be used to improve quality and shelf-life of fruits in sweet cherry crop breeding programmes as well as to valorise landraces in more sustainable farming practices. Freshly harvested ripened fruits from over 40 landraces, cultivated in “Improsta Farm” of Campania Region, were used for the analyses. Multivariate analysis applied to the overall landrace data set evidenced 4 clusters: cluster 1 contained the highest vitamin C, vitamin E and polyphenol contents; cluster 2 contained the lowest contents of such metabolites, cluster 3 showed the highest polyphenoloxidase activities; cluster 4, enclosing the most of landraces, did not differed significantly also from some commercial cultivars. the fruits of landraces of cluster 1, could have a lower oxidative damage risk and, therefore, a delayed senescence. On the other hand they could affect consumers and local farmers because of the higher content of such healthy anti-aging compounds.