GENOTYPE AND GROWING LOCALITY AFFECT THE PHENOLIC COMPOSITION, CARBOXILIC ACIDS AND TITRATABLE ACIDITY OF Hibiscus sabdariffa L. CALYCES

Abstract

Factors such as environmental conditions (E), genotype (G) and the interaction between them determine in some crops the quality of fruits and flowers. This research evaluated the effects of G, E and G × E on the phenolic composition and quality traits of the genotypes of Hibiscus sabdariffa L., Negra Quiviquinta (dark calyces) and UAN 8 (clear calyces). Each genotype was grown in three locations in the states of Colima, Nayarit and Oaxaca. The quality traits recorded were total soluble phenolic compounds (FST), anthocyanins (TA) and percentage of titratable acidity (PTA). The analysis of anthocyanins content and the quantification of short-chain carboxylic acids were carried out by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The effects of G, E and G × E interaction were highly significant (P ≤ 0.01). The contents of FST and TA were genotype dependent (67 and 68 %, respectively), while the PTA was highly influenced by the environment (77 %). Among localities, the Negra Quiviquinta variety had an average FST content higher by 25 % than UAN 8 (3355 ± 235 vs 2685 ± 256 mg EAG 100 g^-1 MS). In AT, the average content among localities for the Negra Quiviquinta variety was 2.2 times higher in relation to the UAN-8 variety (718 ± 184 vs 323 ± 73 mg EC3G 100 g^-1 MS). The average PTA between locations was similar in both genotypes (20.0 and 21.8 %). The organic acids identified were oxalic, tartaric, malic, citric and succinic, of which succinic acid was the most abundant in both cultivars (509.0 ± 231 mg 100 g^-1 and 412.2 ± 118 mg 100 g^-1 for Negra Quiviquinta and UAN 8, respectively. The production environment did not modify the profile of anthocyanins, nor the carboxylic acid content, only their relative percentages.