Identification and quantification of anthocyanins of 62 blueberry cultivars via UPLC-MS

Abstract

Blueberries are rich in anthocyanins, which are plant-specific secondary metabolites that are a good source of plant nutrients. Although anthocyanins have been investigated, there is a lack of comprehensive detailed research that includes large numbers of blueberry cultivars, and the anthocyanin compositions of some cultivars are still unknown. Consequently, we determined the anthocyanin compositions of 62 cultivars using ultra-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS). In total, we identified 30 anthocyanins derived from five kinds of anthocyanidin. We also identified four glycosides having three kinds of modifications. Among the tested cultivars, ‘Rubel’ contained the highest anthocyanin content, at 534.158 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW), whereas ‘Puru’ contained the lowest anthocyanin content at 71.734 mg/100 g FW. ‘Malvidin-gal’ had the highest average content among all the anthocyanin monomers, at 48.95 mg/100 g FW. ‘HL9’ had the greatest methylation degree, at 79.39%, and ‘HL2’ had the greatest acetylation degree, at 25.14%. This study provides detailed anthocyanin compositions and modifications of different blueberry cultivars. These data will aid in breeding high-quality blueberry cultivars and in developing related healthy functional foods.