Selection of new half-highbush blueberry cultivars with higher contents of biologically active compounds

Interest in the biochemical composition of blueberries has been intensified because of the increased awareness of their healthful properties. The indigenous species bog blueberry (Vaccinium uliginosum) and half-highbush blueberry cultivars Northblue, 'Danute', 'Freda, 'Pune' and genotype 'No. 16' were investigated in this study. The Lithuanian cultivars 'Freda' and 'Danute were characteristic for large amounts of quinic acid (3265.60 and 3336.67 mu g mL(-1), respectively) and accumulated the highest content of rutin (12.73 and 17.11 mu g mL(-1), respectively). The juice of V uliginosum and newly bred blueberry genotype No. 16, and cultivars 'Danute and 'Freda' demonstrated high antioxidant properties measured by the ABTS(center dot+) scavenging assay, ferric reducing power assay and oxygen radical absorbance capacity. The presence of large amounts of biologically active compounds enables their use as potent antioxidants. This study corroborates the value of half-highbush genotypes as a potential source of biologically active substances for functional food and pharmaceuticals.