Variation in antioxidant enzyme activities and nonenzyme components among cultivars of rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei Reade) and V. ashei derivatives

Fruit from 42 blueberry (Vaccinium species) cultivars, including 36 rabbiteye cultivars (Vaccinium ashei Reade), 3 V. ashei hybrid derivatives and 3 northern highbush (V. corymbosum L.) standards, were evaluated for antioxidant activities (AA), levels of antioxidant enzymes [catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (AsA-POD), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDAR) and guaiacol peroxidase (G-POD)], and antioxidant nonenzyme components [ascorbic acid (ASA) and glutathione (GSH)]. The results of this study showed that cultivars had varying levels of AA, a wide range of antioxidant enzyme activities and various amounts of nonenzyme components. The correlations between AA and all of the enzyme activities or nonenzyme components were positive and high in the 42 cultivars tested in this study. The correlation (R2) values between AA and CAT, SOD, DHAR, MDAR, GSH-POD, GR, G-POD and AsA-POD were 0.91, 0.91, 0.91, 0.91, 0.90, 0.90, 0.90, and 0.90, respectively. The correlations between AA and ASA and GSH were 0.94 and 0.92, respectively. Among all 42 cultivars, ‘Early May’ had the highest activities of the AA, AsA-POD, G-POD, DHAR and MDAR and the highest amounts of ASA and GSH, whereas ‘Elliott’ had the highest levels of GR, GSH and SOD.

Research highlights
► Forty-two blueberry cultivars were evaluated for their antioxidant activities, levels of antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant nonenzyme components.
► Substantial variations were found among cultivars on these components.
► Positive correlations were found between antioxidant activities and antioxidant enzyme activities or nonenzyme components.