Physicochemical and sensory characteristics of plums accesses ( Prunus salicina )

The selection of new fruit cultivars is a challenge for researchers and producers. Sensory attributes and physicochemical aspects should be simultaneously considered in the selection of new cultivars. However, it is difficult to correlate these two types of analysis because there is no appropriate technique of sensory analysis for the sampling conditions of fruit. The aim of this study was to employ the Free Choice Profile to describe sensory plum accesses and to correlate the accesses sensorial attributes to the physicochemical analysis in order to support the selection of new potentially commercial cultivars. Fruits from eleven plum accesses cultivated in the experimental fields of the Agronomic Institute of Paraná-IAPAR, PR, Brazil, were harvested. Color parameters, weight, volume, pH, titratable acidity and soluble solids content of five fruits from each plum access were evaluated. Free Choice Profile was used to describe sensory characteristics. A physicochemical evaluation in combination with Free Choice Profile sensory analysis allowed for a complete description of accesses, providing subsidies for selection and future cultivar launches, thus ensuring benefits for researchers, producers and consumers.