Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Apricot Fruits Grown in Southern Jordan

Sa’ed J. Owais

Jordan Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2007

ABSTRACT

Fruits of three apricot cultivars grown in Shuobak area were collected three times at two-week interval during the growing season of 2006. Fruits were transported to the laboratory at the Faculty of Agriculture, at Mu'tah University. The physical and chemical characteristics were investigated and the mineral composition for the three apricot cultivars was determined. Apricot fruits of Bulgari (originally from Bulgaria), Cafona (originally from Italy) and the local cultivar Mistikawi were used in this investigation. Results showed significant statistical variation in the physical characteristics of the apricot fruits. The Bulgari cultivar fruits had the highest fruit weight, diameter, and seed size and seed (pit) characteristics. Cafona fruits geometrical values were intermediate, while Mistikawi fruits had the lower values of physical characteristics. Results also showed statistical variation in fruit chemical composition of the three apricot cultivars. The protein content of Mistikawi was the lowest (5.6%) as compared with Bulgari (7.8%) and Cafona (6.9%) varieties. Fiber content was found to be almost identical in the three cultivars. The ash content also had the same trend. Fat and carbohydrate content were found to vary in the Bulgari cultivar, but their concentrations were the same in Cafona and Mistikawi. The vitamin C content ranged between 9.4 (Mistikawi) and 10.1 mg/100g (Bulgari). The dry matter was the highest in Cafona (19%), whereas Bulgari and Mistikawi had identical values. Results also showed that apricot fruits grown in the Shoubak area had high concentrations of the nutritive minerals Ca, Na, K, Mg, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and P.

Keywords: Apricot; Prunus armeniaca L.; Fruit; Minerals; Physical and chemical properties.