Abstract
Changes in carotenoid content during the storage of mini-pumpkin cultivars were investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography. Zeaxanthin and lutein were the major carotenoid pigments in the fruit of both ‘Kuribo’ and ‘Hokkori-hime’ at harvest. Lutein content was the highest in the fruit of both cultivars, followed by zeaxanthin, β-carotene, violaxanthin, antheraxanthin, neoxanthin and α-carotene. Both carotenoid content and Brix value increased in ‘Kuribo’ for three months after harvest, and decreased thereafter. In the case of ‘Hokkori-hime’, carotenoid content and Brix increased for only one month and decreased two months after harvest.
