Path Analysis on Organic Acids and Acidity of Loquat Fruit

The correlation between organic acid components and their titratable acidity of loquat fruits were studied with path analysis. Results showed that the content of malic acid among fruit organic acids was the greatest contributor to the titratable acidity with path coefficient of PX1→Y= 0.613 9, followed by isocitrate with indirectly effecting in titratable acidity through malic acid(PX4→X1→Y＝0.446 0), and then its directly influencing in fruit acidity(PX4→Y＝0.324 8). The correlation between quinate content and fruit acidity was not obvious. The negative path coefficient from fumarate acid concentration(PX6 →Y＝-0.062 0) indicated its small but negative contribution to fruit acidity.