Effects of harvest time on functional compounds and fruit antioxidant capacity in ten strawberry cultivars

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Huelva (Spain) is the main region for strawberry production in Europe. Most fruit production is exported for fresh consumption to European countries, where consumers demand high fruit quality and appreciate its healthy properties. Strawberry intake is a valuable source of antioxidants compounds with important health benefits. The higher the antioxidant capacity of a cultivar, the better the enhancement of human health. OBJECTIVE: The comparative knowledge of fruit composition on antioxidant compounds and its variation along the cropping season, in ten strawberry cultivars cropped at Huelva. METHODS: Fruit yield and citric acid, ascorbic acid, total phenolics, anthocyanins content as well as antioxidant capacity of fruits were evaluated in ten strawberry cultivars at three harvesting times during the 2014 field campaign. RESULTS:Yield and fruit parameters analyzed were strongly influenced by the genotype and by the time of harvesting. Strawberry fruit quality and antioxidant properties were greater when harvested from mid-to late-season and were not associated with higher yields. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy properties of strawberry fruits depend on cultivar and harvest time. Knowledge of the nutritional properties of these strawberry cultivars might translate into benefits to growers and enhancement of health for consumers.