Pomological, Nutritional and Phytochemical Properties of Some Plum (Prunus domestica L.) Cultivars and Local Selections Grown in a Collection Orchard Located in South-Western Romania

Geometrical and physical properties, dry matter, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, total phenolic content and DPPH radical scavenging activity were investigated in the fresh fruits of six plum (Prunus domestica L.) cultivars ('Centenar', 'Minerva', 'Carpatin', 'Dobrowica', '& Ccaron;a & ccaron;anska Lepotica' and 'Mirabelle de Nancy') and two local selections ('P & abreve;scoaia' and 'Gogosele Ot & abreve;s & abreve;u') grown in an experimental plum orchard collection established in 2016 in Orodel, Dolj county (south-western Romania). In addition, phenolic compounds, organic acids and vitamin C contents were determined in fruit flesh and peel by high-performance liquid chromatography. Analysis of the phenolic compounds indicated that chlorogenic acid and catechin hydrate were the predominant phenolic acid and flavonoid, respectively, in the flesh of most of the investigated cultivars. Higher contents of phenolic compounds were found in the peel, where the phenolic profile was dominated by chlorogenic and vanillic acids among the phenolic acids and by rutin among the flavonoids. The highest total phenolic content was measured in the peel of the 'Centenar' cultivar (575.64 mg GAE/100 g fw) followed by '& Ccaron;a & ccaron;anska Lepotica' (536.55 mg GAE/100 g fw), while the flesh of the 'Mirabelle de Nancy' (218.36 mg GAE/100 g) and 'Gogosele Ot & abreve;s & abreve;u' (152.02 mg GAE/100 g) cultivars were the richest in phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. In terms of functional characteristics, among the two local selections, 'Gogosele Ot & abreve;s & abreve;u' could be considered a valuable plum selection, while P & abreve;scoaia' is more suitable for fresh consumption.