Environmental conditions affect the color, taste, and antioxidant capacity of 11 pomegranate accessions' fruits.
The well-established health beneficial value of pomegranate juice is leading to increased demand for pomegranate products and to the expansion of pomegranate orchards worldwide. The current study describes differences in the chemical composition of major ingredients of the arils and peels of 11 accessions grown in Mediterranean and desert climates in Israel. In most of the accessions, the levels of antioxidant activity and content of total phenolics, total anthocyanins, total soluble solids, glucose, fructose, and acidity were higher in the aril juice of fruit grown in the Mediterranean climate compared to those grown in the desert climate. However, the peels of fruit grown in the desert climate exhibited higher antioxidant activity, and the levels of total phenolics, including the two hydrolyzable tannins, punicalagin and punicalin, were higher compared to those in the peels of fruit grown in the Mediterranean climate. The results indicate that environmental conditions significantly affect pomegranate fruit quality and health beneficial compounds.
Schwartz
Elinor
E
Migal Galilee Technology Center, Kiryat Shmona, Israel.
Tzulker
Revital
R
Glazer
Ira
I
Bar-Ya'akov
Irit
I
Wiesman
Zeev
Z
Tripler
Effi
E
Bar-Ilan
Igal
I
Fromm
Hillel
H
Borochov-Neori
Hamutal
H
Holland
Doron
D
Amir
Rachel
R
D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000032:analysis; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D003116:Color; D003889:Desert Climate; D004777:Environment; D005632:Fructose / Q000032:analysis; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D007557:Israel; D029561:Lythraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000032:analysis; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D013634:Tannins; D013649:Taste
D000872:Anthocyanins; D000975:Antioxidants; D010636:Phenols; D010938:Plant Oils; D013634:Tannins; D005632:Fructose; D005947:Glucose