Abstract

Calafate (Berberis microphylla G. Forst) is an evergreen shrub with blue berries that grows naturally in Patagonia, in South America. It has beneficial nutraceutical characteristics for human health. The objective of the research was to evaluate the effect of different harvest dates of calafate clones in the south-central zone of Chile on the polyphenolic content, antioxidant capacity, quality parameters and fruit yield. To meet this objective, during three consecutive years, four wild calafate clones located in the town of San Ignacio, Chile, were selected. Where a harvest period was established from 110 to 140 days after full bloom (DAFBs), each of the harvests carried out were used for the following measurements: antioxidant capacity, determination of anthocyanin content, concentration of polyphenols, phenolic compounds, soluble solids, total titratable acidity, pH, fruit yield and quality. Among the main results, it can be highlighted that clone 2 was the one that obtained the highest concentration of soluble solids, with 38.0 degrees Brix at 140 DAFBs. Together, it was the one that obtained the highest content of total polyphenols and concentration of anthocyanins, with 1121 g GAE kg(-1) fw and 714 g cy-3-glu 100 g(-1) fw, respectively.