title: Accumulation of antioxidants in apricot fruit through ripening: characterization of a genotype with enhanced functional properties.
abstract: Two apricot genotypes, 'Gonci magyarkajszi' and 'Preventa' were assayed at three ripening stages for flesh color indices (L*, a*, b*, C* and Hº), contents of total phenolics and vitamin C, and both water- and lipid-soluble antioxidant capacities (ferric reducing antioxidant power; 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity; total radical scavenging activity; and Photochem lipid-soluble antioxidant capacity) to compare their dynamics in the accumulation of antioxidant compounds and capacities through ripening. The increase in a*, b* and C* and decrease in Hº during ripening represented a color shift from green to yellow and orange due to carotenoid accumulation. Parallel to carotenoid accumulation, contents of total phenolics and vitamin C and antioxidant capacity increased significantly (p < 0.05) from unripe to fully ripe fruits. More phenolics and vitamin C accumulated in fully ripe fruits of 'Preventa' than 'Gönci magyarkajszi'. The accumulation patterns of these compounds were different: while the vitamin C contents in unripe fruit of 'Preventa' and 'Gönci magyarkajszi' were identical (approx. 6 mg/100 g fresh weight), unripe 'Preventa' contained even more phenolics (approx. 12 mmolGA/l) than fully ripe 'Gönci magyarkajszi' (8 mmolGA/l). Our results confirm that fully ripe 'Preventa' fruits are characterized by outstanding functional properties due to the increased accumulation of vitamin C and phenolics throughout the ripening process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Cowinus University of Budapest, Budapest, Hungary. hegedus.attila@uni-corvinus.hu
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hegedüs
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.forename: Nóra
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papp
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Abrankó
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blázovics
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pedryc
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stefanovits-Bányai
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000032:analysis*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000032:analysis; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D005838:Genotype; D049449:Luminescence; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis*; D010858:Pigmentation; D027861:Prunus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010636:Phenols; D001205:Ascorbic Acid