Seedless Barberry (Berberis vulgaris L.) is a medicinal shrub that all parts of the plant used for many diseases treatment [5]. Since the managemental procedure are critical for quality of medicinal products, the aim of this research was determininig the best harvesting and drying methods for seedless barberry. This research was conducted as factorial experiment based on Complete Randomized Block Design with three replications in southern Khorassan province, Iran, in 2010. Exprimental factors included picking off method (branch and berry picking) and drying method (sun drying and shade drying). The chractestics such as pH, soluble solids (Brix) and acidity were determined in barberry sampels, also the amount of anthocyanin was defined by Timberlak and Bridle method [6]. Maturity index (MI) defined as brix to acidity ratio. Results showed that all chractestics were superior in sun drying and berry picking off methods tretments, except pH (Table 1). It has been reported that the amounts of anthocyanin was reduced at low light level [2], whereas the others reported that increasing light reduced it [1]. This differents related to plant, variety, location, season and growth phase [3]. Anthocyanines are more stable at high pH [4], Since in sun drying and berry picking treatmetns, amounts of acidity and anthocyanin were increased and pH was decreased, it seems that this pigments in seedless barberry could maintain with applying these treatments. Our results indicated that sun drying and berry picking off methods were more effective to improve qualitative proprrties of seedless barberry.

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