Karam Karaali *(1) , Georgous Makhoul (1)and Abd-Al Aziz Boissa (2)
(1). Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.
(2). Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, Lattakia, Syria.
(3). Department of Soil and Water Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Tishreen University, .
(*Corresponding author: Eng. Karam karaali. Email: Karam.karaali@tishreen.edu.sy).
Received:19/02/2024 Accepted: 9/05/2024
Abstract:
The study was conducted during the 2021 and 2022 seasons on apple varieties “Golden and Starking Delicious” in Latakia Governorate in 3 locations with different elevations above sea level (Kasab, Slanfeh, and KhirbetSolas) from 4 slopes, with the aim of studying the effect of slope direction in some physical and chemical characteristics of fruits. The results showed a clear effect of location and slope direction on the physical and chemical characteristics. It was noted that the northern and western slopes of Slenfa, Kassab and KhirbetSolas outperformed the fruits size and weight, the highest value for the weight and volume reached 124.81 cm3, 117.14 g for Golden, and 199.00 cm3, 192.95 g for Starking, and the northern slope of Kassab was superior in fruit solidity 3.01 kg/cm2 followed by northern slope of KhirbetSolas 2.87 kg/cm2, then the western slope with 1.91 kg/cm2, and the northern slope of Slanfeh was superior with 2.38 kg/cm2. For Starking, the northern slope of Kessab recorded the highest value 4.5 kg/cm2. The eastern slope of Slinfeh was superior in total acidity 0.85% for Golden, followed by southern and western slopes of Slinfeh 0.84%, 0.75% and the southern slope of KhirbetSolas recorded the highest value 0.68%. the southern slope of Kassab was significantly superior in the percentage of total sugars 11.79%, followed by the eastern slope 10.34% and the eastern slope of Slanfeh 9.88%. The lowest percentage of sugars was 9.15 and 9.16 for the northern and western slopes of Slenfeh. The northern and southern slopes of KhirbetSolas were superior in total acidity content 2.50 and 2.38% for Starking, while the southern slopes of Kassab recorded 1.63%, followed by the western and eastern slopes with 1.41 and 1.40%. The lowest value of acidity was in the northern slope of Slinfa 0.78%, and the western slope was superior to the other slopes 1.13%. The highest percentage of sugars in the fruits of Starking was in the southern and eastern slopes of KhirbetSolas 12.16, 12.11%.
Keywords: Golden Delicious, Starking Delicious, slope direction, Vitamin C, Total acidity, sugars.
Full paper in Arabic: PDF