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Several physicochemical characteristics (ash, acidity, crude fat, crude fibre, sugars,
moisture, ascorbic acid and soluble solids) and concentration of macro elements
(Ca, Mg, Na, K) and trace elements (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn) were measured
in harvested mature, green pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) fruits from Mbezi,
Dar es Salaam during their off vine, open air, room temperature storage-ripening
period of eight days. Pineapple fruits from early, middle and late fruit-season
were studied. The results showed that the Mbezi pineapple fruits had high
moisture content (68 – 89%), moderate titratable acidity (0.80 – 1.50% c.a.),
low crude fat content (0.12%), low crude fibre amounts (0.40%), low ash content
(0.20%), high reducing sugars (14.2 – 22.8%), high total sugars (15.2 – 30.0%),
high total soluble solids (15.7 – 29.3%) and high ascorbic acid content (7.9 –
33.4%). Of the four macro elements potassium was highest in concentration.
The heavy metals, copper, chromium, iron, manganese and zinc were detected at
very low concentrations in the fruits indicating insignificant pollution in the fruits.
Ascorbic acid, moisture, titratable acidity, sugars content and total soluble solids
amounts varied within the season and with the days of storage-ripening. |
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