Events

Seminar Presentation

Please join us for seminar, Monday September 28 presented by Tomomi Komatsu entitled “Effects of Genotype and Processing on Phytochemicals in American Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon).”

ABSTRACT
Phytochemicals in the American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) have been associated with health-promoting effects, and prior studies have shown that their composition varies substantially among cultivars. More than 95% of cranberries are consumed as processed products. However, little is known about how cultivar-specific responses to processing vary regarding their phytochemical profiles. In this study, a standard-addition liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) method for targeted quantification was first developed and validated to overcome matrix effects expected among compositionally different cranberry extracts and was applied to five cultivars for targeted and untargeted comparisons. To examine processing effects, eighteen genotypes were screened, and six selected as high- and low-proanthocyanidin (PAC) phenotypes were hot-air dried at 60, 75, and 90 °C to a final moisture content of 15%. It was hypothesized that initial PAC content may influence monomeric anthocyanin retention and changes in polymeric color. Relative to freeze-dried controls, soluble PACs were not significantly changed, whereas insoluble PAC values increased by approximately 20% at 60 and 90 °C, primarily in high-PAC genotypes with a significant PAC group × drying interaction. Monomeric anthocyanins decreased by 14–22% with genotype-dependent responses. High-PAC genotypes neither retained more anthocyanins nor formed more polymeric pigments. Notably, losses were not greater at 90 °C than at 60 °C, while percent polymeric color increased only after the longer 60 and 75 °C treatments. Consequently, drying increased non-extractable PAC values in high-PAC genotypes, whereas anthocyanin fate depended on cultivar and drying conditions rather than PAC content.

September 28, 12 pm – 1 pm