Analysis of carotenoid content and diversity in apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.) grown in China

The carotenoids in the peel and flesh of 41 apricot cultivars were qualitatively and quantitatively analysed by UHPLC-APCI-MS/MS, and the L*, a*, b* and quality indexes of the fruits were determined. The results showed that the L*, a*, b* and quality indexes of the fruits were quite different, and 13 carotenoids were detected in the peel and flesh of apricots, among which epsilon-carotene, alpha-cryptoxanthin and apocarotenal were newly detected carotenoids in apricots. The total carotenoid content of the 41 apricot cultivars varied from 20.983 to 320.278 mu g/g FW, and the total carotenoid content varied from 17.353 to 222.098 mu g/g FW in the peel and from 2.536 to 98.179 mu g/g FW in the flesh. The main components of apricot fruits were beta-carotene and (E/Z)-phy-toene, followed by beta-cryptoxanthin and lutein. This study shows that carotenoids in apricot fruits have rich metabolic diversity.