Abstract

"Polyphenol content and antioxidant activity in murtilla (Ugni molinae Turcz) fruit from three genotypes (the 14-4 genotype and the Red Pearl-INIA and South Pearl-INIA varieties) were studied over five growing seasons. Our results showed significant differences in total polyphenol content among yearly harvests. The lowest value (283 ± 72 mg GAE/100 g dw) was obtained for the 14-4 genotype in the 2008 harvest, and the highest value (2,152 ± 290 mg GAE/100 g dw) was observed for the variety South Pearl-INIA in 2007. The lowest value for antioxidant activity (2,234 ± 337 μmol TE/100 g dw) was obtained for the Red Pearl-INIA variety in 2008, and the highest value (4,073 ± 76 μmol TE/100 g dw) was observed for the 14-4 genotype in 2007. There was a significant effect of genotype and growing season on polyphenol content, antioxidant activity and dry matter content for the murtilla fruits evaluated in this study, but additional studies examining other abiotic and biotic factors are required to fully explain causality."