Comparison of anthocyanins and phenolics in organically and conventionally grown blueberries in selected cultivars

Consumption of berries has become popular among health-conscious consumers due to the high levels of valuable antioxidants, such as anthocyanins, and phenolic compounds in berries. Four Rabbiteye blueberry cultivars (i.e., Powderblue, Climax, Tifblue, and Woodward) grown organically and conventionally were compared regarding their chemical profiles and antioxidant capacity in terms of total phenolic content (TPC), total anthocyanin content (TAC) and ORAC activity. Regardless of the high TPC, TAC and ORAC in both organically and conventionally grown blueberries, not all the organic berries showed significantly higher TPC, TAC and ORAC than the conventional berries. The chemical profiles (i.e., the free phenolic compounds and anthocyanins) were determined with aid of HPLC-MS, by which 13 individual anthocyanins and seven free phenolics were identified. This study demonstrated the subtle differences of bioactive phytochemicals between the organically and conventionally grown berries.