Study on carotenoid content in berry fruits

Abstract

In addition to ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds, yellow, orange, and bright red fruit and berry crops contain carotenoids—antioxidant substances that have a positive effect on the human body. The article presents the results of studying the content of carotenoids in light-colored berry fruits: sea buckthorn, gooseberry, and red currant. Sea buckthorn was found to be the leader in the accumulation of this biologically active substance. In gooseberry and red currant, which have light-colored fruits, carotenoids are found in small amounts. The average carotenoid content is as follows: sea buckthorn – 4.98 ± 0.49 mg/100 g; gooseberry – 0.68 ± 0.07 mg/100 g; red currant – 0.33 ± 0.04 mg/100 g.The average content of carotenoids accumulated in sea buckthorn fruits varies significantly from 1.69 (Zheltoplodnaya) to 10.59 mg/100 g (ELS 8-51), with a variation interval of 8.90 mg/100 g and a variation coefficient of 46.0%. Of the studied varieties, elite and selected forms of sea buckthorn, specimens having a carotenoid content of over 6.00 mg/100 g in fruits were identified: Karamelka, Kenigsbergskaya, Podarok Chernozem’yu, Syurpriz Baltiki, ELS 8-51, and OS 8-51-44-20. In 31.8% of variety specimens, the carotenoid content in fruit was lower than the variety average (below 3.50 mg/100 g)– from 1.69 to 3.46 mg/100 g. Of breeding interest is the selected elite young plant 8-51 that accumulates the maximum amount of carotenoids in fruit (10.59 mg/100 g) and exhibits the studied trait stability (V = 10.9%). Gooseberry and red currant are of no breeding interest as sources of carotenoids.