A3 Refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) Ecotypes




AuthorsLaura Zoratti, Hannele Klemettilä, Laura Jaakola

EditorsMonique Simmonds, Victor Preedy

Publishing placeAmsterdam

Publication year2016

Book title Nutritional Composition of Fruit Cultivars

First page 83

Last page99

Number of pages17

ISBN978-0-12-408117-8

eISBN978-0-12-408064-5

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-408117-8.00004-0


Abstract

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) is an important wild berry that has long tradition as a food and medicinal plant in Europe. Nowadays, bilberries are picked commercially, especially in northern and eastern parts of Europe. These berries are among the best sources of anthocyanin pigments, which have multiple health-beneficial properties. In addition to anthocyanins, bilberries also contain high yields other phenolic compounds and carotenoids, and are a good-to-moderate source of vitamins and both macro- and micro-nutrients. Variation in the quantitative and qualitative composition of phytonutrients has been detected between different bilberry ecotypes, but more comprehensive studies on this topic are still needed. As bilberries have not been subjected to breeding or cultivation programs, the populations of this species still possess the natural variation developed as a result of long-term adaptation, under different growth conditions.



Last updated on 2024-26-11 at 20:08