Soft-Seeded Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Varieties: Preliminary Characterization and Quality Changes of Minimally Processed Arils During Storage

摘要

A preliminary characterization of two new soft-seeded pomegranate varieties (MR-100A (R) and KINGDOMA (R)) based on their main physico-chemical and nutritional parameters was reported. The two varieties showed significant differences (p = 0.05) in polyphenols, anthocyanins and antioxidant activity. Kingdom pomegranate had higher polyphenols (2524.73 mg GAE/L), anthocyanins (752.49 mg C(3)gE/L) and antioxidant activity (EC50 13.58 mu L/mL) than MR-100 (1792.74 mg GAE/L, 141.29 mg C(3)gE/L and EC50 47.53 mu L/mL, respectively). Moreover, minimally processed arils of the two varieties were packaged in semipermeable and micro-perforated film at 5 degrees C, and the quality changes that occurred during storage condition (15 days) were investigated. During storage, Kingdom arils exhibited a better performance in terms of antioxidant activity, polyphenols and anthocyanin content with respect to MR-100. Furthermore, the packaging systems did not affect the estimated quality parameters for both varieties. Based on the sensory evaluation and microbial counts, both aril varieties reached, at 15-day storage, suitable values for commercial purpose.