Investigation biochemical diversity of peel and pulp from some natural citrus biotypes

Natural citrus biotypes are a valuable genetic resource in the country. Investigation about diversity of biochemical compounds due to optimize the utilization and development of new varieties is useful. Therefore، for identifying them، the fruits of 16 biotypes with numbers of 6، 8، 15، 21، 24، 25، 26، 29، 30، 41، 43، 45، 48، 51، 52 and 53 in the germplasm collection of the Iran Citrus Research Institute were harvested at stage of ripening in commercial citrus varieties. Changes of color peel، antioxidant capacity، total phenol and vitamin C were investigated in both peel and pulp. Results showed that antioxidant capacity and vitamin C in peel were higher than the pulp and peel of biotypes 24 and 29 had highest (132 mg/100g FW) vitamin C. The content of total phenol in the pulp was higher than the peel and total phenol in pulp of biotype 25 was higher (1/25 mg/g FW) than other of biotypes. The antioxidant capacity of peel and pulp of fruits had weak correlation with vitamin C and total phenol. Besides fruit pulp with high total phenol، the peels are also a good source of vitamin C and can be used for food and pharmaceutical industries.