Content and Composition Comparisons of Carotenoids between Red-flesh Watermelon and Yellow-flesh Watermelon

This study aimed at the content and composition comparisons of carotenoid between red-flesh watermelon and yellow-flesh watermelon. In practice,the carotenoids concents of the two kinds of watermelon were determined using ultraviolet-visible spectrometry(UV-VIS). Their carotenoid composition was then assessed with C18-and C30-HPLC. The UV-VIS detection showed that the carotenoids concents of the two kinds of watermelon are 0.3432 mg/g dw and 0.1167mg/g dw,respectively. The data from C18-and C30-HPLC assessment suggested that the carotenoid compositions of the two kinds of watermelon are quite different. The major carotenoid of red-flesh watermelon is lycopene.