Postharvest quality, antioxidant activity and acceptability of strawberries grown in conventional and organic systems

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of organic and conventional cultivation systems and the cultivars on the postharvest quality, antioxidant activity and acceptability of strawberries. Strawberries of the cultivars Albion, Monterey and San Andreas were analysed with respect to the soluble solids content (SS), titratable acidity (TA), SS/TA ratio, fruit colour, vitamin C content, antioxidant activity by the DDPH method, mineral composition and acceptability. The cultivation systems and cultivars had different influences on the SS, TA, pH, SS/TA and colour of the strawberries. The vitamin C content of cv. Monterey was higher (78.68 mg ascorbic acid 100 g-1) than that of cv. San Andreas (70.28 mg ascorbic acid 100 g-1) in the conventional system, while in the organic system, the cultivars did not differ. Differences were not observed amongst the cultivars and cultivation conditions for antioxidant activity and the cultivation systems and cultivars had no effect on the P, Cu and Mg mineral contents. The conventionally cultivated strawberries of cv. Monterey obtained the highest value for acceptance (7.51) while the organically cultivated strawberries of cv. San Andreas received the lowest value (6.58).