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Although blueberries are widely studied, little information exists on their composition and content of flavonol glycosides. Most studies identify only a few flavonols in blueberries due to separation and identification issues. In the present study, we identified 44 flavonols and chlorogenic acid in 30 samples of Highbush and Rabbiteye blueberry, using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS n . Highbush group fruits presented mainly quercetin-3-galactoside in their composition, while Rabbiteye group fruits exhibited higher levels of quercetin-3-rhamnoside and quercetin-3-glucuronide. Among the identified flavonols, 8 acylates (acetyl and hydroxymethylglutaroyl) were found, of which quercetin-3-O-[4″-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl)]-α-rhamnoside was found for the first time in blueberries. This compound is exclusive to the cultivars Florida and Powderblue, where it is present in high quantities. Glucuronides of syringetin and laricitrin, and rhamnosyl-galactosides of myricetin, quercetin and isorhamnetin were also found for the first time in blueberries. The Principal Component Analysis showed that blueberry groups can be distinguished based on their phenolic compound profile., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the content and profile of the phenolic compounds (PCs) and antioxidant properties of field-grown leaves, in vitro leaves and in vitro callus cultures of the blackberry ‘Čačanska Bestrna’ and blueberry ‘Toro’. In vitro shoots of the selected genotypes were grown either on original Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 1 mg/L BA, 0.1 mg/L IBA and 0.1 mg/L GA3 (‘Čačanska Bestrna’) or on MS medium with macroelements reduced to 1/2, 2 mg/L zeatin and 0.2 mg/L IAA (‘Toro’). Callus cultures were induced from in vitro leaves and established on MS medium with 2 mg/L BA and 2 mg/L 2,4-D (‘Čačanska Bestrna’) or MS medium with half strength macroelements, 2 mg/L BA, 2 mg/L 2,4-D and 1 mg/L NAA (‘Toro’). Total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid content (TFC) were the highest in blueberry leaves, whereas low TPC and TFC values were obtained in callus cultures of both cultivars. A higher content of PCs in blueberry leaves compared to blackberry leaves was determined by the UHPLC-DAD MS/MS technique. Quercetin derivatives and phenolic acids were the dominant PCs in the leaves of both berries, whereas gallocatechin was present in a significant amount in blueberry leaves. Callus cultures of both berries had a specific PC profile, with none detected in the leaves except quercetin-3-O-glucoside and quercetin-3-O-rutinoside. Blackberry leaves showed the best antioxidant properties as estimated by ferric reducing power (FRP), ABTS•+ and DPPH• scavenging activity assays. Callus cultures of both berries exhibited three to five times lower ABTS•+ and ten to seventeen times lower DPPH• scavenging activity compared to corresponding leaves. The analyzed leaves and callus cultures can be a good source of PCs with good antioxidant properties and specific phenolics, respectively, for applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the vegetative growth and some physicochemical quality parameters in fruits of different varieties of blueberries grown with amendments applied to the soil. The experimental design was completely randomized according to factorial treatments with nine replications. Length and number of shoots, flower buds number, total soluble solids (TSS), pH, color, total anthocyanins (TA), total phenols (TP) and antioxidant capacity (AC) were evaluated. The application of gypsum, sulphur and compost increased the shoots number in the varieties 'Bluejay' and 'Duke' with values from 15 and 17.5, respectively. The 'Duke' variety was the latest with regard to the flowering stage, evading the problem of frost. Among varieties, 'Bluejay' and 'Blueray' stood out for presenting fruits with greater acidity and antioxidant capacity (89.1 and 91.5% DPPH inhibition, respectively), however, the TP was higher in 'Bluejay' (701.6 mg gallic acid 100 g-1). The use of gypsum, sulphur and compost allows obtaining fruits with high soluble solids content (9.8 °Brix), however, the antioxidant capacity was similar when pine peel was included, with AC values from 91.4 and 88.8% DPPH inhibition, respectively. The amendments such as gypsum, sulphur and compost incorporated into the soil allow an adequate vegetative growth and the obtaining of blueberry fruits with physicochemical quality characteristics acceptable for their commercialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Anthocyanins are the major phenolics group detected in the bilberry liqueurs. • Hydroxycinnamic acids are the major phenolics group in the blueberry liqueurs. • Bilberry recipes were comparable in terms of the phenolics contents. • Whole blueberry fruit are not suitable for making blueberry liqueurs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between the phenolics compositions of bilberry and blueberry liqueurs, to determine whether these are comparable. Both bilberry and blueberry liqueurs have the same name on the market, however they differ in phenolic composition and content. A total of 43 compounds were identified, 36 in the bilberry liqueur, and 21 in the blueberry liqueur. High performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) was used to identify and quantify these compounds, where they were fragmented to the MS4 fragments. Anthocyanins were the major phenolics group detected in the bilberry liqueurs, but only the second most abundant phenolics group in the blueberry liqueurs. The most abundant phenolics group in the blueberry liqueurs was hydroxycinnamic acids. The lowest content of individual phenolic compounds was for blueberry liqueur made from whole fruit. This study will provide valuable data to consumers in their choice of a more expensive bilberry liqueur or a cheaper blueberry liqueur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruits form an important part of a healthy human diet as they contain many ingredients with proven pro-health effects such as vitamins, phenolic compounds, organic acids, fiber, and minerals. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of pullulan coating on the quality and shelf life of highbush blueberry during storage. General appearance, weight loss, dry matter, soluble solid content, reducing sugars, content of L-ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds (total phenolics, phenolics acids and anthocyanins) were determined in uncoated and coated blueberries fruits. The microbiological efficiency of pullulan coating was also evaluated. All parameters were monitored during storage at 4 °C and 16 °C by 28 and 14 days, respectively. The study showed that pullulan coating protects perishable food products especially susceptible to mechanical injury including fruits such as blueberries. Pullulan acts as a barrier that minimizes respiration rate, delaying deterioration and controlling microbial growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The fruit quality traits and the phytochemical content of blueberries are of increasing importance to researchers in the field of food and health and important breeding objectives. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to gain preliminary information on parent's performances and variation of the fruit traits and phytochemicals from a small breeding population. METHODS: The breeding population was from a 3 × 4 factorial mating design, 120 seedlings in total. The fruit traits evaluated were weight, colour, pedicel scar size and firmness and the phytochemical composition included the total anthocyanin and phenolic contents and total antioxidant activity. RESULTS: Variation was found for all the traits studied in all families, with low genetic correlations between fruit traits, high correlations between phytochemicals and negative correlations between fruit weight and phytochemicals. CONCLUSIONS: Breeding population size was small and the lack of replication has influenced the statistical approach. From our observations we found 'Hortblue Petite' potentially an excellent parent for phytochemical traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, consumers' preference for fruits such as blueberry has increased noticeably. This fact is probably related to their bioactive components such as anthocyanins, phenolic compounds, vitamins, minerals, and tannins that have been found in blueberries by the latest research studies. Both total anthocyanins (TA) and total phenolic compounds (TPC) are known for their multiple beneficial effects on our health, due to their anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-cancer properties. This is the reason why the development of new methodologies for the quality control analysis of raw materials or derived products from blueberry has a great relevance. Two ultrasound-assisted extraction methods (UAE) have been optimized for the quantification of TA and TPC in blueberry samples. The six variables to be optimized were: solvent composition, temperature, amplitude, cycle, extraction solvent pH, and sample/solvent ratio using response surface methodology. The optimized methods have proven to be suitable for the extraction of the TPC and TA with good precision (repeatability and intermediate precision) (coefficient of variation (CV) < 5%) and potentially for application in commercial samples. This fact, together with the multiple advantages of UAE, makes these methods a good alternative to be used in quality control analysis by both industries and laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]