Abstract: In order to acquire basic data for genetic diversity in southern Xinjiang apricot and to supply scientific theory for the protection and utilization of these resources, aroma components, sugar, acid compositions and genetic diversity in 30 varieties of southern Xinjiang apricot and 4 north China apricot cultivars were studied by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC - MS) and capillary electrophoresis (CE). The results indicated that 9 classes such as esters, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones and heterocycles including 213 compositions were identified in southern Xinjiang apricot fruits, and that southern Xinjiang apricot presented considerable genetic variations both in total classes of volatile components, in classes and contents of each compound classes and in segregation ratio and content of main components, which revealed significant difference between varieties and rich genetic diversity in the population. Alcohols and heterocycles contents in southern Xinjiang apricot were significantly higher than those in north China apricot while esters were remarkably lower than north China apricot. The variation coefficients of fructose, glucose, sucrose, malate and citrate in southern Xinjiang apricot were more than 29% , which revealed wider variation range and rich genetic diversity. The content of total sugar in southern Xinjiang apricot ( 146.58 mg·g- 1 ) was 2.23 times of that in north China apricot (65.73 mg·g- 1 ) and fructose in southern Xinjiang apricot (32.36 mg·g- 1 ) was 7.85 times of that in north China apricot ( 4.12 mg·g-1). Southern Xinjiang apricot belongs to malate / citrate type.

Key words: apricot, aroma component, sugar and acid composition, genetic diversity