Comparative analysis of physio-chemical parameters and effect of different juice extraction techniques on the pulp yield of nectarine cultivars

Abstract

Fruits supplement human diet by providing various nutrients. Fruit cultivation in India, grows most fruitful in the areas of the Himalayas, with abundance from every angle. Nectarine fruit is a hybrid of peach and plum. The major commercial varieties of nectarine grown in Himachal Pradesh are May Fire, Snow Queen and Silver King. The study was aimed to determine the difference in nutritional parameters of selected cultivars of nectarine and to study the effect of different juice extraction techniques on the yield of pulp. Results revealed that there was a non-significant difference in terms of physical parameters in all the varieties. In case of proximate composition significant difference was observed in ash and carbohydrate content among all the varieties. pH , ascorbic acid, brix-acid ratio and sugars had significant difference with highest ascorbic acid was noted in May Fire (8.52mg/100gm) while Snow Queen variety had highest pH (3.30) and total sugars (8.33 %) when compared with each other. Mineral composition showed that the fruit had highest content of potassium with maximum value reported for Snow Queen (202.00 mg/100g). A significant difference was also observed in all the varieties when analyzed for phosphorous, magnesium and sodium content. Data related to juice extraction techniques showed that highest pulp recovery was observed in blanching treatment with pulp recovery noted as 70, 69 and 68 per cent for Snow Queen, May Fire and Silver King while lowest pulp recovery was noted in manual method