Anthocyanin content and profile within and among blueberry species

Abstract

Anthocyanins in ripe fruit of four Vaccinium species and genotypes within these species were compared, revealing substantial inter- and intra-species variability among these commercial and non-commercial blueberries. The highest total anthocyanin content occurred in the bilberry (V. myrtillus L.). Commercial lowbush blueberry clonal mixtures and wild velvet leaf blueberries (V. myrtilloides L.) had about 43% of the anthocyanin content of bilberries (fresh weight basis). Three commercial highbush cultivars (V. corymbosum L.) had about 30% of the bilberry level, while wild genotypes of highbush blueberries had almost 60% of the bilberry level. Acetylation of anthocyanins occurred widely among all species, except bilberries. Although the proportions of the five blueberry anthocyanidins varied substantially among the commercial blueberries, these differences probably do not contribute substantially to differences in their relative antioxidant capacity. Key words: Vaccinium, bilberry, acetylation, cluster analysis, antioxidant