Interspecific Differences in the Percentage of Anthocyanins, Aglycones, and Aglycone-sugars in the Fruit of Seven Species of Blueberries

HPLC analysis of seven blueberry species, V. ashei Read ( 2n = 6x = 72), V. constablaei Gray ( 2n = 6x = 72), V. corymbosum L. ( 2n = 2X = 24 and 2n = 4X = 48), V. elliotti Chap. ( 2n = 2X = 24), V. pallidum Ait. ( 2n = 2X 24 and 2n = 4X = 48), V. simulatum Small (2 n = 4X = 48), and V. tenellum Ait. ( 2n = 2X = 24), identified the 3-monoarabinosides, 3-monogalactosides, and 3-monoglucosides of cyanidin, delphinidin, malvidin, peonidin, and petunidin in each species. Differences in relative percent of individual anthocyanins in some instances were useful in distinguishing among both species and ploidy levels. Differences in percent aglycones were also useful in distinguishing among species. Evidence presented does not support grouping V. elliotti, V. simulatum , and V. constablaei into a single “highbush” species (i.e., V. corymbosum). Percent cyanidin-3-galactoside appeared useful in distinguishing ploidy levels in V. pallidum and between 4X V. pallidum and the “palloid” phase of V. constablaei ( 6X ).