Chemical Components and Characteristics of Black Chokeberry

Abstract

Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa Elliott), belonging to Rosaceae, is low wood of North America origin. It was introduced for the berry into Japan (Hokkaido) from former Soviet Union in 1976. Now in Hokkaido, it is cultivated in Sapporo (at Hokkaido National Agricultural Experiment Station), Ebetsu and Otaki. As for the cultivation, there were both trees of the North America derivation and the Russia derivation in Ebetu, and were the Russia derivation in the other places. In order to develop processed foods for Black chokeberry, chemical components and characteristics, i.e., proximate composition, organic acids and dietary fiber, polyphenol contents, mineral and vitamin contents, Brix, pH and one fruit weight, were investigated on 4 kinds of Black chokeberries in 3 places. The berries contained more β-carotene (770.6μg/10og), dietary fiber(5.62g/100g) than other fruits and berries. The content of β-cryptoxanthin (463.0μg/100g) and polyphenol (748.4mg/100g) in these were also high. The berries of the Russia derivation, as compared with those of the North America derivation, tended to be higher content of vitamin C, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin and organic acids, but to be lower content of polyphenol.