Fruit Quality, Antioxidant Capacity, and Flavonoid Content of Organically and Conventionally Grown Blueberries

Shiow Y. Wang*, Chi-Tsun Chen, William Sciarappa, Chien Y. Wang and Mary J. Camp
Genetic Improvement of Fruits and Vegetables Laboratory, Produce Quality and Safety Laboratory, and Biometrical Consulting Service, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350, and Department of Agriculture and Resource Management Agents, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903
J. Agric. Food Chem., 2008, 56 (14), pp 5788–5794
DOI: 10.1021/jf703775r
Publication Date (Web): July 1, 2008
Copyright © 2008 American Chemical Society
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed [telephone (301) 504-5776; fax (301) 504-5062; e-mail shiow.wang@ars.usda.gov].
Food and Feed Chemistry

Abstract

The effect of cultivation practices on fruit quality and antioxidant capacity in highbush blueberries var. Bluecrop (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) was evaluated from random samples of commercial late harvest fields in New Jersey. Results from this study showed that blueberry fruit grown from organic culture yielded significantly higher sugars (fructose and glucose), malic acid, total phenolics, total anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity (ORAC) than fruit from the conventional culture. In organically cultured fruit, the average values for the ORAC, total anthocyanins, and total phenolic content were 46.14 μmol of Trolox (TE)/g of fresh weight (fwt), 131.2 mg/100 g of fwt, and 319.3 mg/100 g of fwt, respectively. In conventionally cultured fruit, the average values for the ORAC, total anthocyanin, and total phenol content were 30.8 μmol of TE/g of fwt, 82.4 mg/100 g of fwt, and 190.3 mg/100 g of fwt, respectively. The organic culture also produced fruit with higher contents of myricetin 3-arabinoside, quercetin 3-glucoside, delphinidin 3-galactoside, delphinidin 3-glucoside, delphinidin 3-arabinoside, petunidin 3-galactoside, petunidin 3-glucoside, and malvidin 3-arabinoside than conventional culture. There was a significant correlation between the ORAC values and total phenolics and total anthocyanins. These results indicate that even though there were variations in phytonutrient content among individual farms within each cultural system, significant differences between two cultivation practices were evident.

Keywords:

Vaccinium corymbosum; antioxidant activity; anthocyanin; total phenolic; flavonoid; sugar; organic acid; cultural system
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History

  • Published In Issue July 23, 2008
  • Article ASAPJuly 01, 2008
  • Received: December 27, 2007
    Accepted: May 30, 2008
    Revised: May 14, 2008

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