Nutrient content of three clones of red fruit (Pandanus conoideus) during the maturity development

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the best harvest time of three clones red fruit (Pandanus conoideus) based on their nutrient contents. Fruit flesh of three red fruit clones (namely Monsor, Edewewits and Memeri) were analyzed the nutritional content, during the development of the maturity i.e. unripe, half ripe, ripe and overripe. The results show that the maturity stages had a significant effect on the nutrient contents of three clones of red fruit. Nutritional components in the red fruit on are fat (50.8-55.58%), carbohydrate (36.78-46.3%), vitamin C (24-45 mg per 100 g), phosphorus (654-792 ppm), calcium (4919-5176 ppm), total carotenoids (976-1592 ppm) and total tocopherols (1256-2016 ppm). The changed of nutrient composition of fruits vary in each clone during ripening. Using the principal component analysis (PCA), commonly three clones of red fruit in unripe and half ripe stages could be characterized by high content of ash, calcium, phosphor, and carbohydrate, while red fruit in maturity level of ripe and overripe were characterized by high content of fat, total carotenoids and total tocopherol content. Based on these results, the red fruit is perfect to harvest on ripe or overripe phase so that they have abundant nutrient content.