Physicochemical properties of the African pear and Black olive from different agroecological zones of Cameroon.

摘要

Dacryodes edulis and Canarium schweinfurthii fruits (African pear and black olive, respectively) were characterized for their physical and chemical properties. Fruits were collected during peak harvest at 3 agroecological zones of Cameroon. The physical properties measured were fruit weight, length, and circumference, and pulp thickness, whereas the chemical parameters analysed included moisture, protein, lipid and ash contents. Fruits from the humid forest were largest (96 g), whereas fruits from the grassland were smallest (54 g). The highest pulp content per fruit (69% for the African pear and 57% for black olive) was recorded for fruits harvested from the humid forest zone. The strongest correlation (r=0.25) between fruit weight and pulp weight was observed for black olive produced in the humid forest zone. The crude protein rate was highest (8%) in fruits from the humid forest, whereas the lipid content was highest (42%) in fruits from the semi-forest zone. The humid forest zone offers the best agroecological conditions for the commercial production of the fruits of D. edulis and C. schweinfurthii. Both fruits contain proteins and lipids in significant quantities and can be used as alternative sources of these components..