The phenolic profiles
and other major metabolites in juices made
from fruits of 17 cultivars and selections of European pears were
investigated using UHPLC-DAD-ESI-QTOF-MS and GC-FID, respectively.
A total of 39 phenolic compounds were detected, including hydroxybenzoic
acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavan-3-ols, procyanidins, flavonols,
and arbutin. Among these compounds, 5-
O
-caffeoylquinic
acid was the most predominant, accounting for 14–39% of total
quantified phenolic contents (TPA) determined in this study. The variations
were mainly cultivar dependent. The genetic background effect on the
chemical compositions is complex, and breeding selections from the
same parental cultivars varied dramatically in chemical compositions.
Putative perry pears contained more 4-
O
-caffeoylquinic
acid, 5-
O
-caffeoylquinic acid, caffeoyl
N
-trytophan, caffeoylshikimic acid, coumaroylquinic acid isomer, syringic
acid hexoside, procyanidin dimer B2, (+)-catechin, and malic acid,
whereas putative dessert pears had higher esters, alcohols, and aldehydes.
The results will be helpful in providing industry with phytochemical
compositional information, assisting pear selections in commercial
utilization.