Chemical Composition and Quality of Cultivated and Natural Blueberry Fruit in Estonia

Abstract

Chemical Composition and Quality of Cultivated and Natural Blueberry Fruit in Estonia Nutrition studies suggest that blueberries help keep us healthy and these possible health benefits may be due to the antioxidant capacity as well as other natural compounds in blueberry fruit. Different taxa of Vaccinium species (Bilberry - Vaccinium myrtillus L.; lowbush blueberry - Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.; half-highbush blueberry - Vaccinium corymbosum x Vaccinium angustifolium ‘Northblue’ and ‘Northcountry’) were analyzed for surface color, size, sugars, titratable acidity, soluble solids, fat, protein, vitamins and anthocyanin content. The blueberry fruit were harvested from three commercial blueberry plantations and from one natural habitat in 2003. The fruit of V. angustifolium were collected from two different areas: one plantation was located on mineral soil and the other on peat soil (abandoned peat pits). The anthocyanin content ranged from 125 to 405 mg·100 g-1 of fresh berry in different species and cultivars. Half-highbush blueberry ‘Northblue’ had the largest berry size but ascorbic acid and anthocyanin contents were low. V. myrtillus had the lowest total energy value, but the highest anthocyanin content. Glucose and fructose content was higher in fruit of V. angustifolium compared with the other species. The soil type (mineral or peat soil) did not affect anthocyanin and ascorbic acid content of V. angustifolium fruit but titratable acids and moisture content was higher in fruit of V. angustifolium grown on peat soil, compared with mineral soil.

Effect of Harvest Year and Altitude on Nutritional and Biometric Characteristics of Blueberry Cultivars

“…The values founded in present study suggest that our climate and geographic conditions favored the accumulation of crude protein in blueberries, which is very interesting compared with the studies on "Duke" and "Bluecrop" cultivars carried out by Starast et al [14] in Estonia.…”

“…Fruit weight shows a great variation within cultivars, whilst the fruit firmness seems to be directly related either to the harvest time or to cultivar and season [13]. The berry moisture content as well as its dry mass is significantly influenced by growing environmental conditions as reported by Starast et al [14]. The ripeness stage seems to be fundamental for the fruit quality.…”

Influence of soil type on half-highbush blueberry productivity

“…In Estonia half-highbush blueberry is successfully cultivated in mineral soils (Starast et al 2002, Starast et al 2007a, lowbush blueberry has shown high productivity in peat soil (Vahejõe et al 2010, Paal et al 2011. Estonia is very rich in mires (Orru 1995) and peat production is a well-developed industry here.…”

“…Climate conditions of North Europe are suitable for the lowbush (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) and half-highbush blueberry (V. corumbosum x V. angustifolium) cultivation (Bläsing 1989, Haffner and Vestrheim 1994, Paasisalo et al 1994, Starast et al 2007a). …”

“…Peat is a very acidic organic material that improves soil condition and therefore influences significantly leaf photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, root activity, and mycorrhizal infection of blueberry plants. Berry quality is also affected by soils or substrates (Grajkowski et al 2007, Starast et al 2007a). …”