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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Methods and Application of Food Composition Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #410493
Research Project: Advanced Technology for Rapid Comprehensive Analysis of the Chemical Components

Location: Methods and Application of Food Composition Laboratory

Title: Variability and determinants of secondary metabolite profiles in cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) from key cultivation states

Author
item Geng, Ping
item Harnly, James - Jim
item Sun, Jianghao
item Chen, Pei

Submitted to: Journal of Agriculture and Food Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2024
Publication Date: 1/11/2024
Citation: Geng, P., Harnly, J.M., Sun, J., Chen, P. 2024. Variability and determinants of secondary metabolite profiles in cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) from key cultivation states. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research. 15:100983. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2024.100983.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2024.100983

Interpretive Summary: Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is a small, acidic berry native to North America. Due to the increasing evidence of the potential health benefits associated with secondary metabolites in cranberry, considerable effort has been invested in selective breeding programs aimed at enhancing their production. The unique and complex composition of secondary metabolites found in cranberries contributes to their potential therapeutic properties. These secondary metabolites, including phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and organic acids, have been extensively studied due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. Numerous studies have reported variations in nonphenolic organic acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids (including flavonols, anthocyanins, oligomers or polymers of flavan-3-ols) and triterpene levels between different cranberry cultivars, indicating varietal effects on the accumulation of secondary metabolites. However, there remains a knowledge gap regarding the extent of variation in secondary metabolite profiles among cranberries cultivated in major cultivation states.

Technical Abstract: A total of 112 cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) fruit samples from six different cultivars grown in New Jersey and Wisconsin by different growers were collected and analyzed using fuzzy chromatograph mass spectrometry (FCMS) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography high-resolution accurate-mass multistage mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRAM-MSn). Factorial multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA)-principal component analysis (PCA) was applied for data analysis. Six experimental factors including cultivar, cranberry growing state, growers, harvest times, and analytical and biological replicates were evaluated. The cultivars and cultivation location (Wisconsin vs New Jersey) exhibited the most significant contribution to the total variance. Consequently, this study then specifically aimed to examine the relative variations in secondary metabolite contents among cranberries cultivated in New Jersey and Wisconsin. The results showed that geographic factor significantly affect the levels of some organic acids, flavonol glycosides, and iridoids even in the same cultivar of cranberry.