The carotenoid content was determined according to
Mercadante and Rodriguez-Amaya (1998) by extracting pigments
with acetone and saponifying in a KOH solution (2 mol/L of KOH in
distilled water) overnight at room temperature. The extract was
concentrated by rotary evaporation (Fisatom, Model 801)
(T < 25 C) and stored at 18 C for quantification by highperformance
liquid chromatography.