title: Sustained deficit irrigation affects the colour and phytochemical characteristics of pomegranate juice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  No information exists on the consequences of water stress on the pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) tree in terms of the quality and health/nutritional properties of its juice. In this study the influence of two different sustained deficit irrigation treatments on the colour, antioxidant activity and total phenolic compound, total anthocyanin, punicalagin and ellagic acid contents of pomegranate juice was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Control plants were irrigated at 75% ETo (crop reference evapotranspiration) in order to ensure non-limiting soil water conditions, while others were subjected to sustained deficit irrigation at 43 and 12% ETo throughout the experimental period. Both moderate (43%) and severe (12%) water stress treatments led to pomegranate juices with a more yellowish colour, lower antioxidant activity and lower total phenolic compound, punicalagin and total anthocyanin contents than those from control plants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pomegranate juice from trees under sustained deficit irrigation was of lower quality and less healthful than that from trees without water stress. From a nutritional point of view, this means that a reduction in irrigation provides a dramatic decrease in bioactive phenolic compounds, especially anthocyanins and punicalagin, and consequently a lower visual attraction of the juice owing to the weak red colour of the fruit.
authors.affiliation: Research Group on Quality, Safety and Bioactivity of Plant Foods, Food Science and Technology Department, CEBAS-CSIC, PO Box 164, E-30100, Espinardo, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mena
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galindo
authors.forename: Jacinta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Collado-González
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ondoño
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: García-Viguera
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferreres
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torrecillas
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gil-Izquierdo
mesh_terms: D057914:Agricultural Irrigation / Q000379:methods*; D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis*; D029561:Lythraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D010636:Phenols; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D018547:Plant Stems; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010636:Phenols; D064209:Phytochemicals; D014867:Water