MAJOR CAROTENOIDS IN JUICES OF PONKAN MANDARIN AND LIUCHENG ORANGE

The identification and quantitation of major carotenoids in juices of Ponkan mandarin and Liucheng orange and their changes during harvesting were studied. Neoxanthin, violaxanthin, lutein, β-cryptoxanthin, α-carotene and β-carotene are the major carotenoids for Ponkan mandarin. During the harvesting period, the contents of violaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin and β-carotene increase significantly. For Liucheng orange, neoxanthin, violaxanthin, lutein, antheraxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, α-carotene and β-carotene are the major carotenoids. Among them, neoxanthin, violaxanthin, lutein, antheraxanthin and β-cryptoxanthin increase significantly during the harvesting period. The β-cryptoxanthin and β-carotene are the major contributors to the color of Ponkan mandarin juice while neoxanthin, violaxanthin, lutein and antheraxanthin are the major ones for the color of Liucheng orange juice.