Proximate composition and technological properties of fresh blackthorn (Prunus spinosa L. subsp dasyphylla (Schur.)) fruits

In this study, the chemical and physical properties of blackthorn (Prunus spinosa subsp. dasyphlla (Schur.)) fruits growing wild in Konya province were determined. Proximate analysis such as dry matter, crude oil, crude protein, crude fibre, crude energy, ash, water-soluble and alcohol-soluble extract, pH and acid and mineral contents were established in this work. Al, B, Ca, K, Mg, Na, P and S were deter-mined as major minerals. Mineral content of blackthorn growing in Turkey were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES). All materials contained high amounts of K (18706.98 mg/kg), Ca (1524.22 mg/kg), Mg (968.15 mg/kg), P (1514.1 mg/ kg): S (500025.97 mg/kg), Na (530.11 mg/kg), B (26.99 mg/kg), Al (26.33 mg/kg) and Fe (16.18 mg/kg). Also, technological properties such as length and diameter of fruit, unit mass, volume of fruit, geometric mean diameter, sphericity, bulk density, fruit density, porosity, projected area, terminal velocity, kernel and pulp mass, static and dynamic coefficient of friction were measured at 69.37% moisture content levels. The values of length, mass, diameter, geometric mean diameter and sphericity of blackthorn fruit were established as 12.12 mm, 1.28 g, 12.59 mm, 12.43 mm and 1.03, respectively. At the same moisture content, projected area, volume, bulk density, fruit density, porosity, terminal velocity, fruit hardness, static friction and dynamic friction coefficients were determined as 1.454 cm(2), 1288.5 mm(3), 15.66 g, 598.9 kg/m(3), 1111.43 kg/m(3), 46.38%, 16.14 m/s, 0.28 N, 0.3351-0.3986 and 0.2814-0.3427, respectively. The analytical values revealed nutritional properties and mineral contents of blackthorn fruit. In addition, knowledge of their mineral contents of fruits is of great interest. Also, it is very important to know the technological properties of equipment used harvesting, transportation and processing of fresh plum fruits. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.