Climate change affects fruit quality

Climate change reduces crunchiness, but increases the sweetness of apples. This conclusion, published in the August 15 issue of Nature Scientific Report, was carried out by a group of Japanese researchers.

After analyzing the data collected from two apple orchards in Japan, the team confirmed that climate change has a significant effect on the taste and appearance of apples. These changes are due to earlier flowering of apple trees and higher temperatures during plant growth.

Researchers have chosen to study two well-known plantations of Fuji and Tsugaru apples in Nagano and Aomori prefectures, as the region has a 10-year average increase of 0.31 - 0.34 degrees Celsius, and Both of these gardens have not changed in the long-term cultivation, to eliminate the non-weathering factors such as technical progress for apple varieties.

Scientists collected data during the period of 1970 - 2010, including measuring acidity and sugar content, crunchyness of fruit and water intestinal disease - a disease that causes water-infiltrated areas in apple flesh. .

Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

After the analysis, the scientists found that the acidity, crunchiness and bowel disease decreased, but the sugar level in the apple increased with time.

According to the author of the study - Mr. Toshihiko Sugiura of the National Institute of Fruit Trees in Fujimoto, the increase in sweetness due to climate change is a positive impact, while the reduction of brittle is only an effect. extra.

This is the first study to look at changes in the taste and appearance of fruits due to the effects of climate change.

Previous studies have shown that climate change causes apple trees to flower earlier and fruit yields are also affected by changes in precipitation and air temperature. Apples are the third most popular fruit in the world, with an annual output of up to 60 million tons.

Meanwhile, according to a survey by Le Monde newspaper (France), climate change makes grape production in northern France and southern London (London, England) soar.

According to scientists, warm weather is creating more favorable conditions for northern European vineyards. Vineyards in northern France and the south of England in recent years begin the harvest season nearly half a month earlier.

The vineyard owners in England, typically in Denbies, 30km from London, said that the grape production increased suddenly because this year the weather conditions were quite favorable, the winter was long but not too icy, the flowers were blooming. Within only ten days, the sun was warm enough, there was not much rain and little wind.