Antioxidant capacity of fruits and vegetables may be influenced by
genetics as well as environmental factors. We have observed as much
as a 3.3-fold difference in antioxidant capacity as well as total
phenolics and anthocyanins among species and cultivars of Vaccinium
(Prior et al., 1998) and among cultivars of strawberries (Prior et al.,
unpublished data). Antioxidant capacity, total phenolics, and anthocyanins
of two cultivars of rabbiteye blueberry (V. ashei Reade) also
increased with maturity at harvest (Prior et al., 1998). Total antioxidant
capacity may be an effective tool for use in fruit and vegetable breeding
programs designed to increase antioxidant components available for
human consumption