Comparative analysis of nutritional parameters of organically and conventionally cultivated selected fruits from South Gujarat

Abstract

Fifty samples of mango fruit (Mangifera indica) and forty-eight samples each of banana (Musa acuminata) and papaya (Carica papaya) fruits were collected from organically and conventionally cultivated land. Mango fruits were analyzed for total sugar, reducing sugar, protein, vitamin C, β- carotene, B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), B9 (folic acid), and total antioxidant power (capacity). Whereas, banana and papaya fruits were analyzed for total sugar, reducing sugar, protein, vitamin C, B-carotene, B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), B9 (folic acid), and micronutrients like Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu. The results indicated better quality parameters of for mango, banana, and papaya when grown organically than conventionally. However, organic mango contains significantly higher protein, vitamin C, B2, B3, and B9 than conventionally grown mango. In the case of bananas, the content of protein, total sugar, TSS, vitamin C, B3, and B2 were found significantly higher in organically grown than the conventional. Similarly in papaya, protein, reducing sugar, Fe, and B3 contents were found significantly higher in organically grown papaya than conventional ones.