Characterization of Carotenoids Composition and Content in Fruits of Different Apricot Cultivars

Carotenoids pigments are isoprenoid molecules serving indispensable functions in photosynthesis. In plants they are metabolized to plant hormones such as abscisic acid and strigolactones. In addition, they also provide yellow, orange and red hues to many fruit and flowers. Carotenoids are essential in our diet since they are precursors of vitamin A. In addition they are considered to have protective activity against various illnesses such as certain cancers, cardiovascular and degenerative diseases. Vegetables and fruits are a natural source of these compounds and the orange-colored fruits of Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) have the potential to serve as a particularly rich source. However, little is known about the composition of the different carotenoid species in apricots and the variability found within the different commercial and non-commercial cultivars.  In this work we present a detailed characterization of the carotenoids composition and content, analyzed by HPLC, which was done on fruit samples from about 100 different cultivars and lines. The cultivars represent a wide range of fruit color. The data obtained will be used to facilitate research on the genetic factors determining carotennoid profile in apricot.