3.4. Total polyphenols (TP)
Plants contain phytochemicals that contribute to antioxidant
activity, such as phenolics acids, important components that many
reduce the risk of human degenerative diseases (Hasler, 1998).
Fig. 2 showed the TPs results for the ‘Clemenules’ mandarin grafted onto fourteen rootstock. TPs concentrations significantly
varied among rootstocks (from 3.5 to 5.9 mg 100 g−1). The juice
of ‘Clemenules’ mandarin grafted on ‘Volkameriana’ had a much
higher content of total phenolics than the others rootstocks.
Rapisarda et al. (2009) obtained values of the TPs in the juice of citrus
hybrids (Citrus clementina Hort. ex Tan. x C. sinensis L. Osbeck)
similar to those obtained for ‘Clemenules’ mandarin in this study.
This differing behavior could be related to the different water relations
among the rootstocks, which are closely related to citrus juice
quality.