Mratinić E., Popovski B., Milošević T., Popovska M. (2011): Evaluation of apricot fruit quality and correlations between physical and chemical attributes. Czech. J. Food Sci., 29: 161-170.The fruit of apricot (Prunus armeniaca L., Rosaceae) has been used as food in FYR Macedonia since a long time ago. The chemical organic matters from the fruit is a kind material for food processing and has potential nutritional, medical and commercial values. The results based on fruit physical and chemical analyses clearly showed that different apricot genotypes have very important contents of soluble solids, individual sugars, and titratable acidity in limited soil and climatic conditions. In addition, the contents of these chemical compounds in some genotypes were higher than those in the control cultivar Hungarian Best. Using the PC analysis (PC1 = 32.13%, PC2 = 22.86%, and PC3 = 18.32%), apricot genotypes were separated into groups with similar physical and chemical attributes. These relationships may help to select a set of genotypes with better fruit quality performances which, in our study, might be indicated in DL-1/1/04, DL-1/2/03, D-1/04 and K-5/04.

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This work evaluated the influence of different biostimulators (IBA and NAA) on rooting softwood and hardwood cuttings from some stone fruit rootstocks (

Some chemical, sensorial and physical-mechanical properties of 19 apricot genotypes and Hungarian Best (control) such as moisture content, soluble solids content, titratable acidity ratio and their ratio, fruit and stone mass, flesh/stone ratio, fruit dimensions (length, width, thickness), arithmetic and geometric mean diameter, sphericity, surface area and aspect ratio were determined. Their application is also discussed. The highest moisture content and stone mass observed in X-1/1/04 and X-1/2/04, soluble solids content in ZO-1/03, titratable acidity in ZL-2/03, SS/TA ratio in ZL-1/03, and fruit mass and flesh/stone ratio in DL-1/1/04 genotype. The most number of genotypes have orange and deep orange skin and flesh colour, respectively, whereas sweet kernel taste was predominant in most genotypes. Regarding physical-mechanical properties, the superior fruit dimensions (length, width, thickness), arithmetic and geometric mean diameter and surface area observed in DL-1/1/04 genotype, whereas the highest sphericity and surface area observed in X-1/1/04 and X-1/2/04 genotypes. Also, the series of genotypes evaluated have better chemical, sensorial and physical-mechanical properties than Hungarian Best (control). Finally, information about these properties is very important for understanding the behaviour of the product during the postharvest operations.

The territory of the Middle Dnipro, one of the most developed regions of Ukraine, is characterized by a high geological diversity. There is a significant number of nature reserves of different subordination in this area. The paper describes geological natural monuments, which are identified within Middle Dnipro Ragion. The construction of the Kaniv and Kremenchug reservoirs led to the intensification of gravitational, erosion, abrasion processes along their banks, which has worsened the state of geological natural monuments. An inventory of geological objects of the Middle Dnipro and an analysis of their ecological status are necessary for further selection and study of special areas, and scientific monitoring will provide new knowledge about geological formations, their structure and history of origin. The paper presents geological and geomorphological features of the Middle Dnipro coastal strip. The complicated geological structure and dismemberment of the territory protects natural landscapes from human intervention. It is noted that, in recent years, exogenous processes associated with regional climate change have intensified. A total of nine natural objects of different rank have been identified, which are located in the coastal zone of the Dnipro and reservoirs. The natural and anthropogenic factors that affect the state of these geological natural monuments have been identified. The monitoring revealed vulnerable locations and suggested possible means of preservation for geological monuments within the Middle Dnipro. Natural hazards that cause gravitational movements and can destroy natural objects have been revealed to be the most dangerous processes. It is emphasized that it is impossible to avoid such threats, except for preventive measures of engineering and technical nature. Among the anthropogenic hazards are the extraction of construction minerals, construction and business activities within the objects of the nature reserve fund. Conservation measures for natural geological monuments include strengthening the protection of natural objects; the arrangement of monuments with state signs and demarcation of the boundaries of protected areas; display of information boards.