SOME COLOR AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF PEPINO (SOLANUM MURICATUM AITON) FRUIT

F. Kalkan, T. Yildiz

Abstract: The aim of this study is to determine some color and physical properties of pepino fruit (Solanum muricatum Aiton) which is one of the latest introduced vegetables to Turkey. The demand for pepino is increasing in the country due to its nutritional value, flavor and attractive appearance and medicinal uses. For this purpose, some color and physical properties of pepino fruits grown in Samsun province in Turkey were examined. The average fruit mass and shape factor were 285.74 g and 0.90, respectively. The minimum and maximum fruit length and width ranged between 83.64-120.75 mm and 53.33-89.19 mm. The average aspect ratio was determined as 76.94%. Fruit firmness varied from 14.60 to 26.40 kg cm-2 as an average of 17.53 kg cm-2. The mean color intensity (chroma) was 15.79 while hue angle was found to be 76.93. The minimum and maximum values of bulk density, porosity and sphericity were determined as between 374.44-501.09 kg m-3; 48.93-61.90% and 67.82-97.76%, respectively. The results of this study can be used for pepino mechanization and processing.

Keywords: color; pepino (Solanum muricatum Aiton); physical properties

Date published: 2017-10-16