Comparative Study for the physicochemical characteristics of Local and Imported Apple Fruits in Yemen

Abstract

This work aimed to estimate the physical and chemical properties of local apple cultivar (Anna variety) and three varieties of imported apple fruits include (Granny Smith, Red Delicious and Honeycrisp apples) to compare the quality parameters of local apple with imported apple fruits. The samples were collected from local markets in Dhamar city, Yemen. The results showed that the physical properties of apple fruits were, the whole fruit weight (122.04, 113.5, 117.68 and 102.94) g, the pulp weight (109.16, 98.59, 102.77 and 89.7) g, the peel weight (11.76, 11.62, 10.92 and 8.84)g and the seeds weight was (0.0, 0.31, 0.14 and 0.41) g, the fruit extract volume was (47.83, 52.50, 57.83 and 41.70) ml in local, Granny Smith, Red Delicious and Honeycrisp apple varieties respectively. The chemical properties of apples juice were as following ,the moisture (83.43, 82.93, 84.40 and 86.27) %, total solids (16.57, 17.07, 15.77 and 13.73) %, total soluble solids, TSS (13.82, 10.85, 12.15 and 11.68) ˚Brix, reducing sugars (8.32, 6.59, 8.69 and 8.84) %, pH (3.61, 3.69, 4.10 and 4.2), titratable acidity (TA) (0.53, 0.51, 0.22 and 0.22) %, while vitamin (C) content was (16.01, 15.72, 17.46 and 17.61 mg/100 ml) in local, Granny Smith, Red Delicious and Honeycrisp apple varieties respectively. The Maturity indexes were the TSS/TA ratio (26.92, 24.88, 55.39 and 54.58), starch-iodine index (7.67, 10, 10 and 10) and Thiault index (TI) (198.28, 164.32, 149.67 and 143.92) in local, Granny Smith, Red Delicious and Honeycrisp apple varieties respectively. The results of this research revealed that the local apple fruits have good quality indicators, in terms of its physical properties and high TSS content, but the high acidity and starch content may be the reasons of its low sweetness and negatively effects on their quality characteristics.