Carotenoid extraction, detection, and analysis in citrus

Citrus is an important horticultural crop with global, economic and nutritional value. Carotenoids represent the main pigments in citrus fruits and contribute to the esthetic and nutritional value. The complexity of carotenoids in citrus poses a challenge for carotenoid analysis. In this chapter, we describe methods for carotenoid extraction, detection, and analysis that have been optimized for study of citrus fruits. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS/MS) strategies are used for carotenoid profiling of citrus fruit carotenoids and are explained in detail. We outline the applications, advantages, and disadvantages of using these methods to analyze carotenoids in the main citrus species including mandarin, orange, and pummelo.