The effect of post-harvest technologies on selected metabolites in persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) fruit.

BACKGROUND: Tannins are frequently a main focus in the investigation of de-astringency treatments of persimmon, and the effect of a controlled atmosphere on other phytochemicals is often overlooked. In the present study, changes in the content of total soluble and insoluble phenolics, soluble tannins, saponins, and carotenoids, as well as changes in primary metabolites, were monitored. RESULTS: Generally, treatment with ethylene induced a decrease in total phenolic content, whereas, when treated with CO2 , the content of total phenolics remained unchanged compared to the level of total phenolics before treatment. Treatment with apple-sourced ethylene did not significantly affect the level of total phenolics. Additionally, for both varieties, 'Kaki Tipo' and 'Rojo Brillante', the share of insoluble phenolics strongly increased when treated with CO2 , whereas, when treated with ethylene, the same change applied for the ratio of soluble phenolics. The content of carotenoids varied markedly among treatments and varieties, whereas the content of total saponins remained unchanged, regardless of the treatment and variety. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in the present study show that the content of metabolites in persimmon was affected markedly and variedly using post-harvest technology. Apart from the treatment used, changes in the content of metabolites are also affected markedly by the persimmon variety. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Influence of deficit irrigation on strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) fruit quality.

BACKGROUND: Three different irrigation regimes - upper limit of field capacity (UFC), -12 kPa); lower limit of field capacity (LFC), -33 kPa; and deficit irrigation (DI), -70 kPa) were established on silty-loam soil and monitored with tensiometers. Yield and fruit quality of 'Flamenco' and 'Eva's Delight' ever-bearing strawberry cultivars were monitored. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of different irrigation regimes on the content of sugars, organic acids and phenolic compounds using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry HPLC/HPLC-MS. RESULTS: Deficit irrigation significantly increased the content of sugars (from 1.1- to 1.3 fold), organic acids (from 1.1- to 1.3-fold), their ratio (from 1.1- to 1.2-fold) and the content of most identified phenolics in cv. 'Flamenco'. Conversely, higher amounts of total sugars and organic acids (1.7- to 1.8-fold) were detected in 'Eva's Delight' strawberries at UFC and LFC irrigation. Deficit irrigation generally decreased strawberry yield of cv. 'Eva's Delight'. CONCLUSION: The results suggest superior fruit quality and taste of strawberries grown under minor deficit irrigation for cv. 'Flamenco'. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Selected chemical compounds in firm and mellow persimmon fruit before and after the drying process.

BACKGROUND: Persimmon is a seasonal fruit and only available in fresh form for a short period of each year. In addition to freezing, drying is the simplest substitute for the fresh fruit and accessible throughout the year. The effect of mellowing and drying was evaluated in 'Tipo' persimmon, an astringent cultivar. RESULTS: 'Tipo' firm fruit contained high levels of tannins (1.1 mg g(-1) DW), which were naturally decreased to 0.2 mg g(-1) DW after mellowing. The drying process greatly impacted the contents of carotenoids, total phenols, individual phenolics, tannins, organic acids, sugars and colour parameters in firm and mellow fruit. The reduction of tannins, phenolic compounds and organic acids were accompanied by the increase of sugars and carotenoids, improving the colour of the analysed samples. CONCLUSION: These results showed that the drying process improved the quality of persimmon products and extended their shelf life. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Changes in the anthocyanin pathway related to phenolic compounds and gene expression in skin and pulp of cv. 'Istrska belica' (Olea europaea L.) during ripening.

The purpose of research was to study in detail the dynamics of the anthocyanin pathway during the ripening of olives, comprising the relative gene expression of nine enzymes and the contents of twelve phenolic compounds. The analyses were conducted on cv. 'Istrska belica' at seven maturity stages, separately in the pulp and the skin. Most phenolic compounds showed a higher content in the skin than in the pulp. Results showed that the accumulation of dihidroquercetin and dihydromyricetin started at the latest maturity stages. The most abundant phenolics evaluated in the current study present in both tissues were cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside and delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, both presented at all maturity stages, even when colour was not yet visible in the skin or pulp. Gene expression of enzymes revealed tissue-specific regulation during ripening. Genes expressions for phenylalanine ammonia lyase, chalcone synthase, chalcone isomerase, flavonoid 3-hydroxylase and flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase showed higher levels in the skin than in the pulp, and an upregulation during ripening in both tissues. Anthocyanidin synthase was the only gene with the highest expression at the beginning of ripening, with extreme decrease between second and third maturity stage, which suggests that the enzyme is mainly synthesized at the beginning of ripening and that enzyme activation starts at latest maturity stages. Our research contributes to a better understanding of the dynamics of phenolic accumulation and the relative gene expression of enzymes involved in the anthocyanin pathway in reveals tissue-specific changes during olive fruit ripening. The previous results are also supported by physical changes, which are reflected in a statistical increase in fruit weight, a decrease in fruit firmness and also by changes in appearance observed during ripening. Understanding the accumulation of anthocyanins could, through further study, help to improve the quality of the fruit and therefore the quality of olive products.

Changes in the Aroma Profile and Phenolic Compound Contents of Different Strawberry Cultivars during Ripening.

Secondary metabolites, namely, phenolic and volatile organic compounds, contribute to the nutritional and organoleptic quality of the strawberry fruit. This study focuses on the changes in the content of phenolic compounds and volatile organic compounds during the ripening, from green to overripe fruit, of five strawberry cultivars ('Asia', 'CIVN 766', 'Aprica', 'Clery', and 'Malwina'). Additionally, these changes are compared with the colour of the fruit and peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase activity. Our results show that the accumulation of secondary metabolites (phenolic and volatile organic compounds) significantly changed during the ripening process for all of the studied cultivars. As for phenolic compounds, flavanols and hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives comprised between 87 and 95% of the total phenolic compound content in unripe green fruit. In contrast, anthocyanins and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives comprised between 64 and 77% of the total phenolic compound content in overripe fruit, except in the fruit of the cultivar 'CIVN766'. When it comes to the aroma profile, the content of aldehydes decreased by 24-49% as the fruit ripened, and the accumulation of esters increased. Our study also shows that the ripening process differs among cultivars, and it is therefore necessary to define ripening indicators separately for each cultivar.

Use of HPLC-MS to Determine the Loss of Metabolites in Apple Juices under Different Storage Conditions.

The focus of this experiment was to compare the color and metabolic profile of apple juice from the red-fleshed cultivar 'Baya Marisa' with the white-fleshed cultivar 'Golden Delicious'. The changes in the phenolic compounds, organic acids, and sugar content during high-temperature short-time pasteurization and after one year of storage under different storage conditions were analyzed. A total of 26 individual phenolic compounds were identified and quantified. The total analyzed phenolics content (TAPC) decreased after pasteurization of the juices of both cultivars. The TAPC of fresh 'Baya Marisa' juice after pasteurization increased or remained the same compared to one-year stored 'Baya Marisa' juice, depending on the storage method. The sucrose content of the apple juice of both cultivars remained the same after pasteurization; interestingly, it decreased significantly after one year of storage, while the fructose and glucose content remained the same after pasteurization and increased significantly after one year of storage for both cultivars.

Using HPLC-MS/MS to Determine the Loss of Primary and Secondary Metabolites in the Dehydration Process of Apple Slices.

The aim of this study was to compare peeled and unpeeled dehydrated apple slices of the red-fleshed 'Baya Marisa' and the white-fleshed 'Golden Delicious', to analyze the difference in the content of sugars, organic acids, and phenolic compounds during the heat process of dehydration, and to compare it with our previous study on fresh apples of the same cultivar. The purpose of these study was to see how many primary and secondary metabolites are lost in the dehydration process to better understand what is ingested by consumers in terms of nutritional value. A total of 30 phenolic compounds were identified and quantified, some of them for the first time. The total analyzed phenolic content (TAPC) of the unpeeled dehydrated apple slices was 1.7 times higher in 'Golden Delicious' than in 'Baya Marisa'. The unpeeled dehydrated apple slices of 'Golden Delicious' had higher total hydroxycinnamic acid (2.7×) and dihydrochalcone (1.2×) content. The peeled dehydrated apple slices of 'Baya Marisa' had higher total dihydrochalcone (2.2×) and total flavanol (2.2×) content compared to 'Golden Delicious'. The content of citric and malic acids was higher in the unpeeled and peeled dehydrated apple slices of 'Baya Marisa', compared to 'Golden Delicious'. The content of ascorbic acid was higher in the unpeeled (1.6×) and peeled (1.8×) dried apple slices of 'Baya Marisa'. The content of fructose and glucose was 1.4 times higher in the unpeeled dried apple slices of 'Golden Delicious'.

Variability in 'Capri' Everbearing Strawberry Quality during a Harvest Season.

Strawberries are appreciated by consumers for their characteristic taste and health benefits, which enhance their demand throughout the year. Everbearing strawberries can produce fruits for a longer period and could thus meet this demand, but the fruit quality depends on environmental factors and the cultivar. This study focused on the effect of environmental conditions on the physical attributes and the composition of everbearing Capri cultivar fruit harvested from the end of June to the end of October. A positive correlation was observed between temperature and organic acid content (r = 0.87), and a positive correlation was observed between sunshine duration, anthocyanin (r = 0.87) and phenolic compound contents (r = 0.89). Additionally, the composition of sugars was affected by the environmental conditions. While strawberries harvested towards the end of October, when lower temperatures predominated, were larger in size and had a higher sugar/acid ratio, fruit harvested in the middle of August, when there were longer periods of sunshine, had higher anthocyanin and phenolic compound contents. In conclusion, strawberries with higher sugar/acid ratios are obtained when temperatures are lower, while strawberries exposed to longer periods of sunshine are richer in health-promoting compounds.

Black Queens of Fruits: Chemical Composition of Blackberry (Rubus subg. rubus Watson) and Black Currant (Ribes nigrum L.) Cultivars Selected in Serbia.

Black fruits, especially blackberries and black currants, are highly appreciated by consumers due to their nutraceutical properties, which have reported health benefits. This study aimed to assess the fruit quality of the blackberry (cv. 'Cacanska Bestrna') and black currant (cv. 'Cacanska Crna') created at the Fruit Research Institute, Cacak (Republic of Serbia) by evaluating basic quality parameters (fruit weight, soluble solids), and content of primary (sugars and organic acids) and secondary (phenolic compounds) metabolites. Additionally, the study examined the quality of frozen and long-term frozen storage (6, 9, and 12 months). The results showed that 'Cacanska Crna' contained a high level of total soluble solids (15.23°Bx), sugars (93.06 mg g-1), and a high index of sweetness (159.48) as well as a high content of acids (34.35 mg g-1) in the fruit. Both species were found to contain forty-seven phenolic compounds, including phenolic acids, flavanols, and anthocyanins, analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). 'Cacanska Bestrna' had the highest amounts of phenolic acids (66.85 mg 100 g-1) and flavanols (53.99 mg 100 g-1), whereas 'Cacanska Crna' showed the highest levels of flavonols (8.57 mg 100 g-1) and anthocyanins (139.11 mg 100 g-1). Furthermore, the study revealed that anthocyanins were the most abundant phenolic group in both blackberries and black currants, and their levels remained constant during frozen storage. The sugar content in both species remained unchanged, while the acid concentration increased over time in blackberries but remained consistent in black currants. Overall, the findings highlight the superior phenolic content, particularly anthocyanins, of the cultivars with black fruits selected in Serbia. These cultivars have great commercial potential for the fresh market and processing. Moreover, the study suggests that frozen storage is an effective method for preserving their quality and beneficial properties.

Influence of intra and inter species variation in chilies (Capsicum spp.) on metabolite composition of three fruit segments.

Twenty-one different cultivars from four different species were examined. The highest dry weight was present in seeds (between 35 and 50%) and the average water content was 60%. Placenta and pericarp contained on average 86% water. Total sugars variation between species was 60%. The most concentrated in the various cultivar pericarps were ascorbic acid ranging from 368.1 to 2105.6 mg/100 g DW and citric acid ranging from 1464.3 to 9479.9 mg/100 g DW. Total phenolic content ranged from 2599.1 mg/100 DW in 'Chilli AS- Rot' to 7766.7 mg/100 g DW in 'Carolina Reaper'. The placenta had 23.5 times higher phenolic content than seeds. C. chinense and C. chinense × C. frutescens had 3.5 to 5 times higher capsaicinoid content compared to C. annuum and C. baccatum, with 'Carolina Reaper' having the highest content at 7334.3 mg/100 g DW and 'Chilli AS- Rot' the lowest (318.7 mg/100 g DW).

Identification and quantification of the major phenolic constituents in Juglans regia L. peeled kernels and pellicles, using HPLC-MS/MS.

This study was designed to identify and quantify the major phenolic constituents in peeled kernel and pellicle of the walnut Juglans regia L. Data were compared across six different cultivars: 'Fernor', 'Fernette', 'Franquette', 'Sava', 'Krka' and 'Rubina'. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was used to identify and quantify these compounds. Nineteen ellagitanins, 12 ellagic acid derivatives, 4 anthocyanins and 5 other phenols were identified in the pellicle of these walnuts, and 15 dicarboxylic acid derivatives and 1 phenol in the peeled walnut kernels. Thirteen previously unreported compounds were identified in the peeled walnut kernels, and 14 in the walnut pellicle. Hydrolysable tannins were the main phenolic compounds identified in the walnut kernels, and accounted for 31.0% to 35.1% of the total phenolics analysed. The highest intake of total phenolics content per walnut kernel can be obtained by consumption of 'Franquette' and 'Rubina', with the lowest for 'Krka'.

Walnut (J. regia) Agro-Residues as a Rich Source of Phenolic Compounds.

The present study was designed to identify and quantify the major phenolic compounds (phenolics) in the inner and outer husks, buds and bark of the Persian walnut, Juglans regia L. A comparison across six different cultivars grown in Slovenia was also carried out: 'Fernor', 'Fernette', 'Franquette', 'Sava', 'Krka' and 'Rubina'. A total of 83 compounds were identified, which included 25 naphthoquinones, 15 hydroxycinnamic acids, 8 hydroxybenzoic acids, 13 flavanols, 2 flavones, 1 flavanone and 19 flavonols. For the first time, 38 phenolics in the husks, 57 phenolics in the buds and 29 phenolics in the bark were presented in J. regia within this study. Naphthoquinones were the major phenolics determined, approximately 75% of all analysed phenolics in the inner husk, 85% in the outer husk, 50% in buds and 80% in bark. The highest content of phenolics was found in the walnut buds, followed by the bark, the inner husk and the outer husk. On the basis of these high phenolic contents, walnut husks, buds and bark represented valuable by-products of the walnut tree. These data also show origin-related phenolic contents across the cultivars, and thus these phenolic profiles might serve to define the origins of different walnut cultivars.

Changes in Metabolite Patterns During Refrigerated Storage of Lamb's lettuce (Valerianella locusta L. Betcke).

Lamb's lettuce is a popular winter salad, often grown in private vegetable plots, small local farms or in intensive vegetable production. It is usually marketed as a ready-to-eat produce in supermarkets. The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes in biochemical composition and degradation of bioactive compounds during consumer-relevant time of home-grown and store-bought Valerianella locusta "Vit" salad. Primary metabolites, assimilatory pigments as well as secondary metabolites were monitored during 1 week of refrigerated storage. Home-grown lamb's lettuce exhibited highest levels of total sugars, total organic acids, vitamin C, and total phenolic content as well as enhanced levels of most individual phenolic compounds and chloroplast pigments. Locally produced samples of lamb's lettuce also contained high levels of analyzed bioactive components. All samples retained most bioactive components during the entire period of refrigerated storage. The results underline the instability of vitamin C during refrigerated storage of lamb's lettuce and pinpoint this parameter as being the most affected by storage.

Nitrogen and Sulphur Fertilisation for Marketable Yields of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. Capitata), Leaf Nitrate and Glucosinolates and Nitrogen Losses Studied in a Field Experiment in Central Slovenia.

A field trial of white cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. Capitata L.) was carried out under the humid temperate climate conditions in Central Slovenia to investigate the effects of calcium ammonium nitrate (0, 180 and 240 kg N ha-1) and gypsum (0 and 40 kg S ha-1) fertilisation on yield, yield quality (nitrate, glucosinolate levels and glucosinolate profile) and nitrogen use efficiency. The highest marketable yield, dry matter yield and nitrogen uptake were obtained at the highest nitrogen fertilisation rate when in combination with sulphur. For this treatment, the nitrogen surplus in the soil after harvesting was lower than for the same nitrogen fertilisation without sulphur application. For the combination N240S40, the sulphur addition significantly increased nitrogen use efficiency, which resulted in reduced nitrate content in the cabbage heads. The chemical forms of glucosinolates showed that 80-85% were aliphatic glucosinolates with the remainder as the indole group. For the aliphatic glucosinolates, significant interactions between nitrogen and sulphur fertilisations were reflected in increased levels of progoitrin and glucoiberin when sulphur was applied at the lower nitrogen fertilisation rates. For the indole group, the levels of glucobrassicin and the indole group itself decreased at higher nitrogen fertilisation rates, independent of sulphur fertilisation.

Metabolic Variation among Fruits of Different Chili Cultivars (Capsicum spp.) Using HPLC/MS.

Chilies are widely cultivated for their rich metabolic content, especially capsaicinoids. In our study, we determined individual sugars, organic acids, capsaicinoids, and total phenolic content in pericarp, placenta, and seeds of Capsicum annuum L., Capsicum chinense Jacq. and Capsicum baccatum L. by HPLC/MS. Dry weight varied in the cultivar 'Cayenne', with the first fruit having the lowest dry weight, with 4.14 g. The total sugar content and organic acid content did not vary among the fruits of all three cultivars. The cultivar 'Cayenne' showed differences in total phenolic and capsaicinoid content between fruits in the placenta, with the first fruit having the highest content of total phenolics (27.85 g GAE/kg DW) and total capsaicinoids (16.15 g/kg DW). Of the three cultivars studied, the cultivar 'Habanero Orange' showed the least variability among fruits in terms of metabolites. The content of dihydrocapsaicin, nordihydrocapsaicin, homocapsaicin, and homodihydrocapsaicin in the seeds of the second fruit was higher than that of the first fruit of the cultivar 'Bishop Crown'. The results of our study provided significant insight into the metabolomics of individual fruits of the same chili plant. We have thus increased our understanding of how certain metabolites are distributed between fruits at different levels of the same plant and different parts of the fruit. This could be further investigated when chilies are exposed to different environmental stresses.

Phytochemical assessment of plum (Prunus domestica L.) cultivars selected in Serbia.

The aim of this study was to assess content of primary and secondary metabolites of 18 plum cultivars selected in Serbia. Autochthonous cultivar 'Crvena Ranka' exhibited the highest level of total sugars (174.3 g/kg FW) while cultivar 'Mildora' had the highest sugars/acids ratio (17.2). Cultivar 'Nada' also contained high sugars/acid ratio as well as a high level of glucose and total sugars. Compared to the other cultivars, 'Nada' had a higher content of anthocyanins (27.14 mg/100 g FW), 'Crvena Ranka' neochlorogenic acid (23.21 mg/100 g FW) and flavanols (86.15 mg/100 g FW) but also the highest antioxidant activity. The PCA analysis confirmed that 'Nada' and 'Crvena Ranka' demonstrated better results in terms of sugars and antioxidant activity than the standard cultivars grown in Serbia and can be recommended for increased plum growing for fresh consumption, processing and in the breeding of plum with enhanced nutritional content.

Influence of reflective foil on persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) fruit peel colour and selected bioactive compounds.

The purpose of this work was to investigate how to overcome the negative effect of anti-hail netting on the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) in persimmon trees and persimmon fruit colour, flesh firmness, total soluble solids (TSS) and individual carotenoid and phenolic compound contents (determined via HPLC-MS) under a hail net with the use of reflective foil. Reflective foil increased the PPFD on the lower side of the fruits, while there was no significant difference on the upper side compared to those of the control group. The CIE colour parameters a* and h° indicated more intense red colouration of the fruits in the foil treatment than those in the control. Among carotenoids, the content of ß-carotene increased, and the content of zeaxanthin decreased in fruits in the reflective foil treatment group, while the content of other carotenoids was not affected by the reflective foil. Among individual phenolic compounds in the persimmon peel, greater light intensity significantly influenced all three phenolic compound subgroups: phenolic acids, flavan-3-ols and flavonols. The content of gallic acid in the persimmon flesh increased the most, while other phenolics did not show any significant differences in concentrations between the foil and control groups. This study is the first to examine the influence of reflective foil on bioactive compounds in persimmon fruit. The use of reflective foil in persimmon orchards improves persimmon fruit colour and selected bioactive compound contents.

Brussels Sprout Decapitation Yields Larger Sprouts of Superior Quality.

A common technological practice in Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea L. var. gemmifera) production is the removal of apical plant section a few weeks before harvest in order to promote the development of auxiliary buds (sprouts) and ensure higher yields. It is well-known that this measure positively influences the size of the sprouts, but until now no study has focused on the effect of decapitation on the content of primary and secondary metabolites in Brussels sprouts. Plants were decapitated one month before harvest, and sprouts were sampled from three sections along the stem (basal, middle, top) of each plant. The sprouts were harvested, weighed, and chemically analyzed. The content of individual sugars was assessed by HPLC and the content of individual phenolics and glucosinolates by HPLC-MS. Significant interactions between the decapitation and different stem sections were detected in the weight of the sprouts, as well as in their sugar levels. The highest sugar content was determined in basal sprouts collected from decapitated plants. Conversely, basal sprouts from nondecapitated plants were characterized by the lowest sugar content. No interaction between the decapitation and stem sections was detected in the level of phenolics or glucosinolates. Decapitation promoted the accumulation of all glucosinolates and hydroxycinnamic acids. Moreover, the content of glucosinolates and flavonoids was always highest in the sprouts from the top stem section.

Fresh from the Ornamental Garden: Hips of Selected Rose Cultivars Rich in Phytonutrients.

Morphological parameters (size, weight, color), the content of sugars, organic acids, lycopene, ß-carotene, and phenolics were determined in hips of Rosa canina (RCA), Rosa sweginzowii (RSW), Rosa rugosa (RUG), and selected ornamental Rosa cultivars Fru Dagmar Hastrup (FDH), Repandia (REP), Veilchenblau (RVB), Aloha (RAL), Bonica (BON), and Golden Gate (RGG). Although traditionally used RCA hips contained the highest amount of cyanidin-3-glucoside (83 µg/g DW) and were the reddest (h° = 17.5), they did not stand out in other analyzed parameters. RGG climber had the biggest hips (8.86 g), which also contained highest sugar levels (50.9 g/100 g DW). RAL stood out as the cultivar rich in organic acids (33.9 g/100 g DW), mainly because of high quinic acid content (17.6 g/100g DW). FDH and RSW hips were characterized by particularly high ascorbic acid levels (4325 mg/100 g DW and 4711 mg/100 g DW). Other ornamental cultivars contained low amounts of ascorbic acid compared to the analyzed species. The phenolic profile was species/cultivars-specific. The greatest diversity of phenolic compounds was detected in RUG and FDH hips (55 and 54 different tentatively identified compounds with HPLC/MS). Flavanols represented the main phenolic class in most of the investigated species/cultivars and RGG hips contained the highest amount of catechin and proanthocyandin derivatives (15855 µg/g DW). Altogether RAL hips contained the highest quantity of phenolics (44746 µg/g DW) mainly due to high levels of hydrolysable tannins compared to other species/cultivars. Although small, hips of BON and REP were most abundant regarding ß-carotene and lycopene content, respectively.

HPLC-MS(n) Identification of Betalain Profile of Different Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L. ssp. vulgaris) Parts and Cultivars.

The distribution of betalains in peel, flesh, and petioles of yellow and red beetroot cultivars has been investigated using an High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system with electrospray mass spectrometry. Differences in the levels of betacyanins and betaxanthins between different colored cultivars were individually determined for 3 plant parts. The content of almost all analyzed compounds decreased in the following order: peel > flesh > petiole. Betanin/isobetanin pigments comprised a major portion of the relative peak area measured in red beetroot peel. Isobetanin relative peak areas were also high in leaf petioles (68.94% to 74.16%) of red colored cultivars. However, betacyanins were completely absent from the extracts of all analyzed parts of yellow beet. Glutamine-bx represented a very high relative peak area (59.54% to 64.18%) in flesh of red-colored cultivars analyzed in the study. Our results indicate that red beet cultivars can be utilized as a potential source of red and yellow natural colorants. However, differences in pigment composition among different beetroot parts must be considered and in order to maximize the pigment yields petioles can also be used as a source rich in specific betalain compounds.