Assessment of physicochemical properties of minor fruits (aonla, bael, ber, jackfruit and kaitha)

Abstract

Physicochemical and nutritive evaluation of five minor fruit germplasms/varieties i.e Aonla (NA6 and NA7), Bael (NB5 and NB9), Ber (Karaka and Umran), Jackfruit (NJ2 and NJ3) and Kaitha (K1 and K2) resulted a slight variation within two varieties of each fruit pertaining to size of fruit, peel/shell per cent and pulp per cent. Specific gravity was higher in Ber-U (Ber- Umran) (0.99%) followed by Ber- K (Ber- Karaka), K1, K2 and NA7 (0.98%). Minimum specific gravity was recorded in NJ2 (0.46%). Biochemical investigation of minor fruits, resulted a slight variation within two germplasms/varieties of each fruit pertaining to total mineral content, protein content and crude fibre. Total mineral content was higher in NB5 (1.73 g/100g) followed by NB9 (1.71 g/100g) and minimum total mineral content were noticed in K1.Protein and crude fibre was maximum in K2 (6.92 g/100g) and NB5 (6.38 g/100g). Lowest protein and crude fibre content were found in NA6 (0.53 g/100g) and NA7 (1.20 g/100g).On the whole germplasms/varieties Aonla (NA6 and NA7), Bael (NB5 and NB9), Ber (Karaka and Umran), Jackfruit (NJ2 and NJ3) and Kaitha (K1 and K2) were found best in terms of qualitative as well as physicochemical and nutritive evaluation.