Variability of phenolic composition and tocopherol content of some commercial Almond cultivars

The phenolic (gallic acid, catechin, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, epicatechin, ferulic acid, kaempferol, naringenin, and p-coumaric acid) and tocopherol contents (alpha, beta, gamma, and delta) of some commercially significant almond cultivars were determined in the research. Wide variations in phenolic and tocopherol contents were detected among the cultivars. The highest content among the phenolic substances was obtained for catechin, with the average values of 27.35 mg kg(-1) in 2008 and 39.87 mg kg(-1) in 2009. The highest catechin content was recorded in the cultivar 'Ferraduel' in both years, with the values of 117.59 mg kg(-1) in 2008 and 145.86 mg kg(-1) in 2009. The highest content among the tocopherols was obtained in alpha-tocopherol, and the average values were detected as 312.29 mg kg(-1) in 2008 and 467.31 mg kg(-1) in 2009. The highest alpha-tocopherol contents were determined as 899.49 mg kg(-1) and 945.41 mg kg(-1) in the cultivar 'Supernova' in both years, respectively. In the research, alpha-tocopherol turned out to be the major tocopherol.