Effects of the drying technique on the retention of phytochemicals in conventional and organic plums (Prunus domestica L.)

Plums contain high levels of hydroxycinnamates (neo-chlorogenic acid, Neo-CGA), anthocyanins (ATH) and ascorbic acid. The drying process influences their phytochemical content and plum cultivars are known to have different phytochemical retention after drying, but little data exists regarding to possible differences between conventional (CONV) and organic (ORG) plums. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical content in three different CONV and ORG plum cultivars (Jubileum, Reeves and Victoria) after freeze drying (FD), conventional oven drying (OD) and solar drying (SD).