Anthocyanin concentrations in the skin of both apple cultivars at Maoxian habitat increased
significantly (P ≤ 0.01) from 90 to 140 DAFB, while those at Ya’an habitat increased
significantly (P ≤ 0.05)from 90 to 115 DAFB, and then increased non-significantly
(P > 0.05) from 115 to 140 DAFB (Fig. 1a). The anthocyanin concentrations of
‘Starkrimson’ and ‘Golden Delicious’ apples in Maoxian were higher (P ≤ 0.01) than
those in Ya’an during color formation. Within the same habitat, the anthocyanin concentration
of ‘Starkrimson’ apples was higher (P ≤ 0.01) than that of ‘Golden Delicious’ apples
among three samplings.