FOOD. Science. Technology. Quality

Food. SCIENCE. Technology. Quality

Food. Science. TECHNOLOGY. Quality

Food. Science. Technology. QUALITY

Authors

JOANNA NIEWCZAS, MARTA MITEK

Title

Content of mineral components in the fruit of five varieties of winter squash (Cucurbita maxima)

Abstract

The objective of the research was to determine the content of mineral components in new varieties of winter squash. The experimental material was a fruit of two new, not registered varieties of winter squash denoted as No. 727 and No. 729, a fruit of two new, registered varieties called Justynka and Karowita, and a fruit of one traditionally cultivated Bambino variety. The fruit harvest was conducted on the 25 September 2006. In the analysed fruit of winter squash, the content of the macronutrients: K, P, Ca, Mg, and Na was determined, as was the content of the micronutrients: Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn. Furthermore, the content of ash and its alkalinity were determined. The content of mineral components in the individual varieties of winter squash varied. The new varieties contained much more mineral components than the Bambino variety. The new variety 727 was aboveaverage as regards the content of mineral components. The levels of P, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Zn, and Mn therein were reported the highest. The content of ash in the new varieties was considerably higher than in the Bambino variety. The content of the mineral components in the varieties No. 727, No. 779, and Justynka were almost twice as high as in the Bambino variety. The alkalinity of ash in the new varieties was also higher than in the Bambino variety. Probably, the high alkalinity resulted from the high content of mineral components, i.e. Ca, K, Mg, Mn, and Na in the new varieties.

Keywords

winter squash, mineral components, ash, ash alkalinity

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