Physical, chemical, bioactive and aroma properties of commercial strawberry cultivars grown in Ayd？n province

Ayd？n Province ranks second after Mersin in strawberry cultivation and exportation in Turkey. Within the scope of this study; physical, chemical, bioactive and aroma characteristics of commercial strawberry cultivars, which are mostly cultivated and exported within the borders of Ayd？n, were determined. In this context, total dry matter, pH, total acidity, colour, vitamin C, total phenolic compounds, total flavonoid, antioxidant capacity, sugar composition by HPLC and aroma composition by GC-MS analyses were performed to commercially ripe strawberry cultivars which are Florida fortuna, Rubygem and Sabrina. The results showed that Rubygem cultivar had the highest dry matter content while Sabrina cultivar was found to have more acidic characteristics. It was also determined that the darkness, red colour and yellow colour indexes of Sabrina were higher than the other two cultivars. In terms of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity, Rubygem was observed as the foremost cultivar. Rubygem cultivar contains less sucrose than other strawberry cultivars; total sugar of this cultivar was found to consist largely of reducing sugars (glucose and fructose). According to the results of aroma composition analysis by GC-MS; 16, 18 and 20 volatile compounds were identified in Florida Fortuna, Sabrina and Rubygem cultivars and esters that give fruit odour were found to be active aroma components in all strawberry cultivars