Studies on nutrient analysis of some important minor fruits of tropical India

Several minor fruits are grown in India. Some of them are indigenous and some are exotic and introduced. The area and production of these fruits is very limited but these fruits are rich in vitamins and minerals. Twenty five minor fruits were analyses for fruit characteristics and mineral content. Most of the fruit are small in size and acidic in taste. There was wide ranged of fruit colour and pulp colour in these species. The ascorbic acid content was highest in Barbados cherry (1560 mg/100 g pulp). It ranged between 13 to 50 mg/100g pulp in most of the minor fruit. The Dry matter content was lowest in Bilambi (6.49%) and highest in Chinese salacia (37.0%). nitrogen content was lowest (0.07 5) in Sour Carambola and highest (1.4%) in wood apple (1.4%) on dry weight basis. The phosphorus content ranged from 0.061 percent in Brazilian guava to 0.554 percent in Phalsa. Potassium content was highest in Star gooseberry (6.9%) and lowest in Chinese salacia (0.1%). The calcium content was highest in Phalsa (2.01%). The magnesium content ranged from 0.015 percent in white jamun to 0.787 percent in Phalsa. Sulphur content was highest in Chinese salacia (0.048%). The iron content was highest in Bilambi (154 ppm), Zinc content ranged from 3.0 ppm in white jamun to 43.2 ppm in Bilambi. Minor fruit like Bilambi, Phalsa, noni, Macadomia nut were found rich in micro elements. They may be a good optional for the supply of natural source of for deficiency disorders.