مشخصات پژوهش

The pomegranate fruit is a good source of bioactive compounds. The present study has ‎investigated the biochemical and sensory characteristics of the arils of four Iranian commercial ‎pomegranate cultivars namely Malase Shirine Saveh (MSS), Malase Torshe Saveh (MTS), Alak ‎Shirine Saveh (ASS) and Agha Mohammad Ali (AMA) for several developmental and ripening ‎stages during 45–180 days after fruit set (DAFS). The results showed that the total soluble solids ‎‎(TSS), individual and total anthocyanin concentrations, and color parameters including chroma ‎and a* values significantly increased, in contrast, the total phenolic concentration and color ‎parameters (L* and hue angle) gradually decreased during developmental stages. Six anthocyanin ‎pigments were found responsible for the red color of pomegranate juice. The quantity and the ‎stages. The predominant anthocyanin pigment at all developmental stages in all cultivars was ‎cyanidin 3,5- quality of the anthocyanin pigments were different among the cultivars and the ‎various developmental diglucosides. The maximum total phenolic concentration was recorded at ‎‎45 DAFS for all cultivars. The highest antioxidant activity was recorded at 45 DAFS, and ‎gradually decreased until 135 DAFS. Similar decrease was observed in total phenolic and ‎flavonoid concentrations. Notably, increasing of antioxidant activity at the late-developmental ‎stage was due to induction of the flavonoids and anthocyanins accumulation.‎