CAROTENOID COMPOSITION IN APRICOT FRUITS: A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION ON THREE ITALIAN CULTIVARS

Recently, there has been increased interest in the carotenoid composition of fruits as they can have nutritional interest beyond the pro-vitamin A molecules ( and -carotene, -cryptoxanthin). Among fruits, apricot species is known to be a rich source of carotenoids, responsible for fruit colour.
The aim of this work was to analyze carotenoid composition at harvest and after cold storage in three apricot cultivars: ‘Cafona’, ‘Pellecchiella’ and ‘Dulcinea’. Fruits were characterized for physical and chemical properties and carotenoid content at harvest and after 7 and 14 days at +4°C. Carotenoid compounds were extracted in methanol/hexane from fruit powder and analysed by HPLC-DAD. ‘Pellecchiella’ showed the highest -carotene level, while ‘Cafona’ and ‘Dulcinea’ showed similar lower b-carotene level.
Despite this similarity, phytoene and phytofluene were 1.6 and 1.3 fold respectively higher in ‘Cafona’ than in ‘Dulcinea’. In all the three cultivars, 7 days of cold storage at +4°C did not particularly affect carotenoid content.
After 14 days in both Vesuvian cultivars, the three carotenes increased, while in ‘Dulcinea’ a decrease in phytofluene and -carotene was registered.
As regards nutritional evaluation of apricot fruit in terms of carotenoid content, it is highly recommended to make general conclusions with respect to the cultivars-specific results.
Changes in -carotene content after storage probably depend on the cultivar.

XIV International Symposium on Apricot Breeding and Culture

A. Leccese, S. Bartolini, S. Bureau, M. Reich , C.M.G.C. Renard, J.M. Audergon, R.Viti

Prunus armeniaca L., carotenes, cold storage, fruit quality

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.862.87