Carotenoid composition of two Brazilian genotypes of acerola ( Malpighia punicifolia L.) from two harvests

• Published in: Food research international Vol. 38; no. 8; pp. 1073 - 1077
• Main Authors: De Rosso, V.V., Mercadante, A.Z.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acerola fruit; Barbados cherry; Biological and medical sciences; Carotenoids; environmental factors; Food industries; Fruit and vegetable industries; fruit composition; fruits (food); Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; genotype; Genotypes; HPLC; Malpighia; Malpighia punicifolia; plant pigments; weather; Weather conditions; West Indian cherry; Brazil; Carotenoids; Acerola fruit; Malpighia punicifolia; HPLC; Genotypes; Weather conditions; Fruit; Harvesting; HPLC chromatography; Genotype; Pigments; Chemical composition; Carotenoid
• ISSN: 0963-9969; 1873-7145
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2005.02.023

Acerola fruit is native to Central America and adapted very well to Brazil, which in turn became the major worldwide acerola producer, consumer and exporter. Two acerola genotypes were harvested from a Brazilian plantation during the 2003 and 2004 summer harvests. Both genotypes presented β-carotene (265.5–1669.4 μg/100 g), lutein (37.6–100.7 μg/100 g), β-cryptoxanthin (16.3–56.5 μg/100 g) and α-carotene (7.8–59.3 μg/100 g) as the major carotenoids. In both harvests, the β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin and α-carotene levels were higher in the Olivier genotype, whereas the lutein content was higher in the Waldy Cati 30 genotype. Due to higher sunlight exposure, the fruits harvested in 2004 showed higher total carotenoid contents than those from the 2003 harvest. Acerola, especially the Olivier genotype, with 148–283 RE/100 g, can be considered as a good source of provitamin A.