Fruit Quality Assessments of Six Sweet Cherry Cultivars Grown in the Arid Northwest China

Sweet cherries are high-value commercial fruits whose aroma is a major determinant of fruit quality. This study investigated fruit quality, sugar and organic acid profiles, phenolic composition, and volatile compounds in six sweet cherry cultivars, namely ‘Hongdeng’, ‘Lapins’, ‘Summit’, ‘Rainier’, ‘Van’, and ‘Tieton’, cultivated in arid Kashgar, Xinjiang. Glucose and fructose were the predominant soluble sugars, whereas malic acid and citric acid were the principal organic acids. ‘Rainier’ and ‘Lapins’ exhibited contrasting organic acid accumulation patterns. A total of 56 volatile compounds were identified, with alcohols predominating, followed by esters, aldehydes, and acids. Significant cultivar-dependent differences were observed in total volatile content, soluble solids, fruit color, and firmness. ‘Rainier’ showed the highest total volatile concentration, highest soluble solids content, and highest L* and b* values, and was characterized by isobutanol, isoamyl alcohol, and benzaldehyde. ‘Tieton’ showed the greatest firmness and ‘Summit’ had highest a* value. ‘Tieton’ produced the largest fruits, ‘Hongdeng’ had softer flesh, and ‘Van’ contained high levels of octanoic acid. Odor activity value analysis identified four key aroma compounds. These findings support objective quality evaluation, cultivar selection, and quality management of sweet cherries in arid regions.