Carotenoids and carotenoid esters in different Citrus cultivars: composition, bioacessibility and changes during ripeness

Abstract

The citriculture is important for both Brazilian and São Paulo State economies; however, this activity is based on a few number of varieties, which contributes to its phytosanitary vulnerability. The Centro APTA Citros Sylvio Moreira from Instituto Agronômico de Campinas (IAC) developed new hybrids between orange Pera and tangor Murcott, aiming to combine different disease resistance from both species. Such hybrids are being evaluated for agronomic characteristics and fruit and juice qualities. Carotenoids are responsible for the color of peel and pulp of citrus fruits, and they also present other important biological actions. The composition of free carotenoid from citrus fruits has been widely studied, and is characterized by the large number of different carotenoids found in such matrix. However, a different situation can be observed in relation to carotenoid esters in citrus, with few publications. This research can be divided in three part. The objective of the first one is to develop and validate a new methodology for carotenoid analysis in lyophilized orange pulp, as well as identify the carotenoids and carotenoid esters of Valencia orange pulp. The second objective is to determine the carotenoid profile color and some other quality parameters (fruit size and weight, total soluble solids and acidity) of hybrids between tangor cv. Murcott and orange cv. Pera in different ripening stages. The last objective is to identify and quantify the carotenoid and carotenoid esters of different mandarin cultivars growth in Brazil.