Abstract:
This study analyzes the quality of ‘Huashuo’ apple fruit and corresponding meteorological data by utilizing the 2021 data from 14 production sites in the provinces of Shandong, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan and Henan, and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Principal component analysis and stepwise regression methods are employed to establish a model revealing the many-to-many linear quantitative relationship between the structural systems of apple fruit quality and climatic factors. The results indicate: ① Nineteen quality indicators can be grouped into six principal component quality traits. The overall quality is highest in Xinjiang, followed by Yunnan, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Henan, and Shandong. Each production area has its distinct quality traits: Xinjiang excels in texture + juice quality of fruit, and sugar content; Shaanxi, in fruit shape; Sichuan, in color; Yunnan, in unique nutrition; Henan, in sugar content; and Shandong, in acid content. ② Forty meteorological elements from five phenological periods can be grouped into seven principal component climatic factor combinations. Each production area has its relevant richest climatic factor combinations: Yunnan has the richest combination of water-heat-light during the flowering period and the richest combination of humidity from budding to flowering stage; Xinjiang has the richest combination of water-heat from budding to flowering stage and water-heat-light during the maturity period; Sichuan has the richest combination of water-heat during the enlargement period; Henan has the richest combination of heat from budding to ripening stage; and the most abundant in Shandong is the combination of precipitation from budding to flowering stage and diurnal temperature from fruitlet to ripening stage. ③ The formation of the ‘Huashuo’ apple fruit quality traits is significantly related to the combinations of climatic factors during its growth period. The formation of different quality traits and their main indicators depends on different combinations of key climatic factors and their main meteorological elements. ④ Compared with the production areas of East China, the comprehensive climatic conditions in the production areas of West China are generally more favorable for the formation of the overall quality of ‘Huashuo’ apple fruit, therefore, West China is optimal for ‘Huashuo’ apple.