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2.6.2. Analysis of total carotenoids

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    Total carotenoids content (TCC) was measured spectrophotometrically following the
    

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    methodology described by Ilahy and others (2011) with slight modifications.
    

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    The absorbance was measured at 470 nm versus a blank of hexane solvent, using a
    

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    spectrophotometer (CECIL CE 2021; Cecil Instruments Ltd., Cambridge, UK).
    

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    TCC were calculated following the Equation 1, according to Li and others (2013):
    

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𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑖𝑑𝑠 𝑚𝑔 𝑘𝑔¹² = ^{4567 8 9 8 2:}5

4^;% 8 ?
;<=
(1)

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where A₄₇₀ is the absorbance at 470 nm, V is the total volume of extract (mL), 𝐴^2% is



2AB
extinction coefficient (2500 ^{2:: BC} ), and G is sample weight (g). Total carotenoids
D AB

results were expressed in mg kg^-1 of fresh weight (fw).

31. 2.6.3. Analysis of lycopene

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    Lycopene content (LC) was measured spectrophotometrically following the method
    

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    proposed by Odriozola-Serrano and others (2007). The absorbance of the extract was
    

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    measured in a 1-cm path length quartz cuvette at 503 nm to avoid interference with
    

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other carotenoids. LC was calculated according to Equation 2.


Lycopene (𝑚𝑔 𝑘𝑔¹²) = ^{4E7F 8 GH 8 IJ 8 2:}K
L 8 M
(2)

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    where A₅₀₃ is the absorbance at 503 nm, MW is the molecular weight of lycopene
    

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    (536.9 g mol^-1), DF is the dilution factor, ε is the molar extinction coefficient of
    

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    lycopene (17.2 · 10⁴ L mol^-1 cm^-1) and L is the pathlength (1 cm). Results of lycopene
    

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    content were expressed in mg kg^-1 (fw).
    

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