Nutritional components of fresh and frozen fruits of highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.)

Abstract

The relevance of the study is conditioned by the significant popularity of highbush blueberries among consumers, which they have gained due to their balanced taste and the content of nutrients and bioactive substances that are useful for the human body. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to establish the suitability of fruits of the varieties ‘Duke’, ‘Patriot’, ‘Chanticleer’ for freezing and storage in a frozen state. Biometric, laboratory, analytical, and statistical research methods were used to achieve this goal. As a result of the conducted studies, it was established that the frozen fruits of highbush blueberries of the studied varieties ‘Duke’, ‘Patriot’, ‘Chanticleer’ met the requirements of the highest commercial grade according to DSTU 4837:2007. Defrosted berries of the ‘Duke’ variety had a better appearance than the other two varieties under study, were unfrozen with a wax coating inherent in this type of fruit, their weight loss during freezing was 0.20%, and juice loss after defrosting – 0.71%. Highbush blueberries of the varieties ‘Duke’, ‘Patriot’, ‘Chanticleer’ in the forest-steppe of Ukraine accumulated from 17.6 to 19.0 mg/100 g of vitamin C, 378-545 mg/100 g of polyphenolic substances, 127.2-176.8 mg/100 g of flavonoids, 59.4-162.9 mg/100 g of anthocyanins, and 15.6-32.5 mg/100 g of chalcones. Defrosted ‘Duke’ berries contained the largest amount of nutrients, while losses during freezing and defrosting were: vitamin C – 2.7 mg/100 g, total polyphenols – 102 mg/100 g, anthocyanins – 41.8 mg/100 g. The data obtained are of practical value for gardeners when choosing a variety for creating plantings of highbush blueberries, the fruits of which can be used both for fresh consumption and freezing

Keywords

• polyphenols
• vitamin c
• anthocyanins
• chalcones
• flavonoids