<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Nutrition studies suggest that blueberries help keep us healthy and these possible health benefits may be due to the antioxidant capacity as well as other natural compounds in blueberry fruit. Different taxa of <italic>Vaccinium</italic> species (Bilberry - <italic>Vaccinium myrtillus</italic> L.; lowbush blueberry - <italic>Vaccinium angustifolium</italic> Ait.; half-highbush blueberry - <italic>Vaccinium corymbosum</italic> x <italic>Vaccinium angustifolium</italic> ‘Northblue’ and ‘Northcountry’) were analyzed for surface color, size, sugars, titratable acidity, soluble solids, fat, protein, vitamins and anthocyanin content. The blueberry fruit were harvested from three commercial blueberry plantations and from one natural habitat in 2003. The fruit of <italic>V. angustifolium</italic> were collected from two different areas: one plantation was located on mineral soil and the other on peat soil (abandoned peat pits). The anthocyanin content ranged from 125 to 405 mg·100 g<sup>-1</sup> of fresh berry in different species and cultivars. Half-highbush blueberry ‘Northblue’ had the largest berry size but ascorbic acid and anthocyanin contents were low. <italic>V. myrtillus</italic> had the lowest total energy value, but the highest anthocyanin content. Glucose and fructose content was higher in fruit of <italic>V. angustifolium</italic> compared with the other species. The soil type (mineral or peat soil) did not affect anthocyanin and ascorbic acid content of <italic>V. angustifolium</italic> fruit but titratable acids and moisture content was higher in fruit of <italic>V. angustifolium</italic> grown on peat soil, compared with mineral soil.</p></abstract>

Nutrition studies suggest that blueberries help keep us healthy and these possible health benefits may be due to the antioxidant capacity as well as other natural compounds in blueberry fruit. Different taxa of Vaccinium species (Bilberry - Vaccinium myrtillus L.; lowbush blueberry - Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.; half-highbush blueberry - Vaccinium corymbosum x Vaccinium angustifolium ‘Northblue’ and ‘Northcountry’) were analyzed for surface color, size, sugars, titratable acidity, soluble solids, fat, protein, vitamins and anthocyanin content. The blueberry fruit were harvested from three commercial blueberry plantations and from one natural habitat in 2003. The fruit of V. angustifolium were collected from two different areas: one plantation was located on mineral soil and the other on peat soil (abandoned peat pits). The anthocyanin content ranged from 125 to 405 mg·100 g-1 of fresh berry in different species and cultivars. Half-highbush blueberry ‘Northblue’ had the largest berry size but ascorbic acid and anthocyanin contents were low. V. myrtillus had the lowest total energy value, but the highest anthocyanin content. Glucose and fructose content was higher in fruit of V. angustifolium compared with the other species. The soil type (mineral or peat soil) did not affect anthocyanin and ascorbic acid content of V. angustifolium fruit but titratable acids and moisture content was higher in fruit of V. angustifolium grown on peat soil, compared with mineral soil.

Chemical Composition and Quality of Cultivated and Natural Blueberry Fruit in Estonia

Institute of Botany and Ecology, University of Tartu, Lai 40, 51005 Tartu, Estonia

Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 64, 51014 Tartu, Estonia

Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 64, 51014 Tartu, Estonia

Journal of Fruit and Ornamental Plant Research

Nutrition studies suggest that blueberries help keep us healthy and these possible health benefits may be due to the antioxidant capacity as well as other...

Chemical Composition and Quality of Cultivated and Natural Blueberry Fruit in Estonia

Published Online: Sep 07, 2007

Page range: 143 - 153

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10032-007-0016-6

Keywords
bilberry, vitamin, surface color, sugars, titratable acids, soluble solids, and anthocyanin

This content is open access.

Chemical Composition and Quality of Cultivated and Natural Blueberry Fruit in Estonia

Published Online: Sep 07, 2007

Page range: 143 - 153

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10032-007-0016-6

Keywordsbilberry, vitamin, surface color, sugars, titratable acids, soluble solids, and anthocyanin

This content is open access.

Keywords
bilberry, vitamin, surface color, sugars, titratable acids, soluble solids, and anthocyanin