Characterization of Anthocyanins Including Acetylated Glycosides from Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) Cultivated in Korea Based on UPLC-DAD-QToF/MS and UPLC-Qtrap-MS/MS

In this study, anthocyanin glycosides from nine cultivars of highbush blueberries grown in Korea were characterized using UPLC-DAD-QToF/MS and UPLC-Qtrap-MS/MS. A total of twenty-two derivatives were identified, consisting of mono-glycosides with galactose, glucose, arabinose, acetyl-galactose, or acetyl-glucose moieties attached to aglycones such as cyanidin, peonidin, delphinidin, petunidin, and malvidin. Among them, seven acetylated glycosides were tentatively determined by comparing the related authentic standards and previous reports, and presented mass fragmentation in which the acetyl group remained as form attached to the sugar without deesterification in positive ionization mode. The mid-season cultivar ‘New Hanover’ showed the highest total anthocyanin content (1011.7 mg/100 g dry weight) with predominant malvidin and delphinidin glycosides. Particularly, the ‘Patriot’ (early-season) recorded the highest proportion of acetylated glycosides (19.7%). These detailed anthocyanin profiles will be supported as fundamental data for the development of superior cultivars and functional blueberry-based products as well as the further research of anthocyanin changes by cultivars, harvest time, cultivated methods, storage conditions, etc..