## 4 Discussion
Such discrepancies regarding the effect of the cultivation system on fruit physiological parameters among cultivars have been reported in many species [8; 37; 38]. No differences were detected concerning carotenoid concentration in both cultivars, with the main one being \(\beta\)-carotene, as has been reported in the literature [25; 39; 40]. It was interesting, though, that 'Diamantopoulou' fruits presented higher \(\beta\)-carotene concentration compared to 'Bebecou', a clear sign of the effect of cultivar on caroten content, as hasbeen reported earlier [25; 40; 41; 42; 43]. Similar to the present findings, [PERSON] et al. [5] found no significant effect of the cultivation system on carotenoid concentration in kiwifruits. Fruit size and shape are among the desired characteristics a consumer seeks, but the taste itself also plays an important role in his choice. Organoleptic characteristics of the fruits were not significantly affected by the cultivation system. No significant effects of cultivation management on pH and TA have also been reported in several other species [29; 44]. Only the ratio of TSS versus TA in 'Bebecou' was higher under organic cultivation. This could be partially ascribed to the higher fruit load of the cultivar under integrated management, which could have affected the accumulation of carbohydrates in the fruits due to higher competition. The same also stood for 'Diamantopoulou' fruits, which presented higher TSS under organic cultivation without any significant difference in all other measured organoleptic characteristics. According to [PERSON] and [PERSON] [45], chemical fertilization seems to reduce the soluble solid content in apples, while there are several reports on organically produced fruits with higher TSS content and lower TA [46; 47; 48], as was shown in the present trial, without though significant differences. Other researchers have reported similar results, too [49; 50; 51]. Both cultivars exhibited TSS higher than 11.2 \({}^{0}\)Brix, which according to the European Commission on apricots marketing (Commission Regulation (EC) n. 112/2001), is the threshold of the minimum degree of ripeness at packing [52]. Skin color also plays a significant role in the consumer's preference for an apricot fruit. In the present trial, skin color under integrated management exhibited higher b* (in both cultivars) and Chroma (only in 'Bebecou') indexes, indicating that the yellow coloring was advanced compared to organic management. A similar higher Chroma index has been reported in orange skin under integrated management [49], while on the contrary, [PERSON] et al. [8] reported better skin blush of organically produced apple fruits. There are also reports where no significant effect of the cultivation management on strawberry [29] and apple skin [48] color has been detected, revealing the complexity of the effects of the management system employed each time on color indexes. Apart from fruit size and color, pulp sweetness and, therefore, the carbohydrate content of fruit is also important, as it determines its overall sweetness and appreciation. Fruit carbohydrates were found at similar concentrations under both cultivation practices in both cultivars used in the present trial, indicating that fertilization and phytosanitary programs had few effects on sugar accumulation in the fruit. Similar results have been reported in other species, too [7; 65; 53]. It seems that under the specific fruit yield of each tree, under both cultivation practices, there was not any restriction on carbohydrate supply, even though differences in fruit size were detected. Nonetheless, one must take into consideration not only the yield and fruit weight produced but also the fruit load (as the number or weight of fruits per trunk cross-sectional area) as well as the number of leaves providing assimilates to the fruit [8]. Based on [PERSON] et al. [54], the higher number of leaves per fruit results in higher carbohydrate concentrations determined in apricot fruit.