ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The stage of fruit ripeness at the time of harvest determines the final quality of ripe fruit. In this study, changes in the chemical composition of seed kernels from the oleaginous gourd Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. during maturation were evaluated to determine the best time to harvest the berries. Two cultivars (round and oval berry) were studied at three maturation stages (30 and 50 days after fruit set (DAFS) and complete plant whiteness (CPW)). RESULTS: Seed kernels were rich in oil (527.2-544.6 g kg(-1)), protein (402.8-403.3 g kg(-1)), minerals and energy. Maturation influenced the chemical compounds of the two cultivars differently. Best quantities of these components were reached at 50 DAFS. However, protein bioavailability was better at 30 DAFS and CPW in the round and oval berry cultivars respectively. Lagenaria siceraria oils were of good quality, containing an abundance of essential fatty acids (647.2-667.0 g kg(-1)). CONCLUSION: Both cultivars of L. siceraria should be harvested at 50 DAFS owing to the good nutritional properties of their seeds and oils. However, to obtain best-quality proteins, round and oval berry cultivars should be harvested at 30 DAFS and CPW respectively. The results of this study will be useful in reducing the production time of fruits and improving the nutritional quality of their seeds.
Subject(s)
Cucurbitaceae/chemistry , Dietary Proteins/analysis , Fruit/chemistry , Fruit/growth & development , Plant Oils/chemistry , Seeds/chemistry , Seeds/growth & development , Chemical Phenomena , Cote d'Ivoire , Cucurbitaceae/growth & development , Dietary Carbohydrates/analysis , Dietary Fats/analysis , Fatty Acids, Essential/analysis , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Minerals/analysis , Nutritive Value , Peroxides/analysis , Pigmentation , Quality Control , Species Specificity , Time Factors , Water/analysisABSTRACT
A method using Ion Chromatography hyphenated to an Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer has been developed to accurately determine arsenite (As(III)), arsenate (As(V)), mono-methylarsonic acid (MMAA(V)), dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA(V)) and arsenobetaine (AsBet) in different water matrices. The developed method showed a high sensitivity with detection limits for each arsenic species close to 0.4pg injected. Arsenite and arsenate were the major species found in surface and well waters, but AsBet and DMAA(V) were found in some surface waters, which has never been reported before, while in some natural mineral waters located in volcanic region, the arsenic content exceeded the maximal admissible arsenic content by European legislation standards and the predominant form was As(V).
