Global warming makes apples taste sweeter

It turns out that there are more consequences to global warming than “just” a rise in global temperature – it can also affect the taste and texture of fruit and possibly vegetables.

Japanese researchers showed that the taste and texture of apples had changed as a result of global warming. Over the years, apples became sweeter but softer and more mealy, and less acid.

The scientists analysed data from apple cultivars “Fuji” und “Tsugaru”, which have been cultivated and harvested in the Nagano and Aomori Prefecture since the 1970s.

Over the course of 40 years, average temperature rose in both regions by 0.31 °C and 0.34 °C, and bud break and full bloom dates advanced, while culturing methods remained the same.

The “Fuji” apple is a world leading apple variety, and “Tsugaru” is the second most common variety in Japan. For Japan’s top two apple-producing regions, and probably many other regions that could be affected by a rise in temperature, climate change could have significant impact on agriculture.

References

"Changes in the taste and textural attributes of apples in response to climate change",Toshihiko Sugiura et al., 15 August 2013.