Relationship Among Seed Number, Quality, and Calcium Content in Apple Fruits.

The relationship among seed number, fruit weight, and calcium content in four apple cultivars (Annurca Tradizionale, Annurca Rossa del Sud, Red Delicious, and Golden Delicious) were investigated. In all cultivars, seed number affected the fruit shape. The percentage of misshapen fruits was higher when the seed number was low. A positive relationship was found between seed number and fruit weight (cv. Annurca Tradizionale, Annurca Rossa del Sud, and Golden Delicious), and between seed number and fruit calcium (cv. Golden Delicious and Red Delicious). In cv. Annurca Rossa del Sud, Red Delicious, and Golden Delicious, a significant relationship was noted between seed number and flesh firmness, while a correlation between seed number and pulp acidity was found only for the two Annurca cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]