Mineral content in the pulp and peel of banana cultivars

Abstract

The objective of this work was to determine the dry matter percentage, the mineral content, and the ability to supply minerals, based on dietary reference intake in the pulp and peel of unripe and ripe fruits of 15 banana cultivars. Four bunches were used per cultivar, and six fruits per sample unit. Fresh pulp and peel samples were collected for sulfuric (0.2 g) and nitric perchloric (0.5 g) digestions. The following were determined: in the sulfuric extract, total N by the Kjeldahl method; and, in the nitro perchloric extract, P, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn, and Se. P was determined by colorimetry, and the other nutrients by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mineral content in the pulp and peel was expressed based on the average of the two stages. There are differences between banana cultivars regarding the concentration of macro‑ and micronutrients in the pulp and peel, but not between unripe and ripe fruits. The Terrinha cultivar showed the highest percentage of dry matter in the pulp, and the Marmelo and Maçã cultivars in the peel. For N, P, Fe, Zn, and Cu, the peel showed twice the content of the pulp. The content of K and Mn in the peel was approximately four times that of the pulp. The pulp of the Caipira (AAA) cultivar, and the peel of the Prata and Pacovan (AAB) cultivars show the highest mineral contents.