'Fuentepina' and 'Amiga', two new strawberry cultivars: Evaluation of genotype, ripening and seasonal effects on quality characteristics and health-promoting compounds

BACKGROUND: Strawberries are widely consumed in the world and an important source of health-promoting compounds, such as polyphenols. The nutritional quality as well as the phytochemical composition of strawberry fruits are known to be strongly influenced by genetic, environmental factors, ripeness at harvest, and storage conditions. OBJECTIVE: The nutritional quality and the phytochemical content of two new strawberry cultivars, namely 'Fuentepina' and 'Amiga', were evaluated. These novel cultivars were compared with 'Camarosa' and 'Candonga', the two most extended cultivars in Spain, and with 'Primoris', an emerging one. METHODS: The influence of genotype, stage of ripening and season on different properties as colour, firmness, acidity, soluble solids content, antioxidant capacity, and polyphenols profile were evaluated. RESULTS: Results showed significant effects of genotype, stage of ripening and season on the majority of the measured parameters. Thirty nine phenolic compounds were tentatively identified. Anthocyanins were the most abundant class of polyphenols in 'Amiga', 'Candonga', 'Camarosa' and 'Primoris' cultivars while more flavan-3-ols were recorded in 'Fuentepina'. CONCLUSIONS: 'Fuentepina' strawberries stand out for their pleasant flavour as a result of a high sugar/acid ratio and 'Amiga' strawberries may offer potential as a new promising cultivar due to its high firmness, good sugar/acid ratio and high content of phytochemicals.