title: Influence of pre- and postharvest factors on beta-carotene content, its in vitro bioaccessibility, and antioxidant capacity in melons.
abstract: Fresh and stored melons were analyzed for total and bioaccessible beta-carotene content, as well as total antioxidant potentials, to investigate the effects of genotype, season, sowing time, and storage on nutritional quality. There were significant cultivar effects on beta-carotene content (P < 0.001), ranging from 1 to 23 mg kg(-1) of fresh weight (FW), its bioaccessibility (P < 0.005), ranging from 79 to 94.5%, and for antioxidant potential (P < 0.001), ranging from 1569 to 2267 micromol of Fe(2+) kg(-1) of FW of melons. Sowing time significantly affected beta-carotene contents (P < 0.017) and antioxidant potentials (P < 0.001), but these were highly cultivar dependent, with season having no effect. Postharvest storage over 4 weeks at 7 degrees C resulted in losses of antioxidant potential and beta-carotene content independent of cultivar. Cultivar and postharvest management were major determinants of nutritional quality of the melons evaluated.
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Plant Industry, Private Mail Bag, Merbein, VIC 3505, Australia.
authors.forename: Carla Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wolbang
authors.forename: Davinder Pal
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Stephen Richard
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Sykes
authors.forename: Jennifer Kay
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: McInerney
authors.forename: Anthony Richard
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.forename: Michael Thomas
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Treeby
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D001682:Biological Availability; D019662:Cucurbitaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D004063:Digestion; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019207:beta Carotene