Assessment of physical and physicochemical characteristics of fruit mesocarp and peel of ten Moroccan pomegranate cultivars

Abstract

The mesocarp and the pericarp (peel) of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) constitute a relevant by-product for their richness in bioactive compounds beneficial to human health.In order to valorize these resources,this study aimed to evaluate and to compare the characteristics of the mesocarp and the peel of ten pomegranate cultivars grown in three regions of central Morocco. Physical parameters (yield and color parameters of the CIELAB system) and physicochemical parameters (dry matter, pH, total soluble solids (TSS), ash content and mineral composition) were determined in pomegranate mesocarp and peel. Results showed significant differences between cultivars. The yields of mesocarp and peel varied between 29.04% for the cultivar ‘Sefri of Sidi Abdellah’ and 47.60% for the cultivar ‘Lhamdha’. The cultivar ‘Lahmer’ showed the least saturated mesocarp and peel color (chroma Cab* of 33.03 and 32.35, respectively), while the cultivars ‘Lhamdha’ and ‘Sefri of Ouled Abdellah’ presented the most saturated colors with Cab* values exceeding 75. In terms of physicochemical characteristics, the sour cultivar ‘Lhamdha’ showed the lowest pH values (3.07 for the mesocarp and 3.49 for the peel) as well as high TSS values (22.10% for the mesocarp and 28.30% for the peel). The dry matter varied between 14.75% and 25.08% for the mesocarp and between 21.15% and 38.55% for the peel. Pomegranate peel was rich in ash (0.55–1.14%) compared to the mesocarp (0.35–0.81%). The cultivar ‘Bzeq Tir’ presented the highest dry matter for the mesocarp and the peel and the highest ash and mineral contents, especially potassium and calcium for its mesocarp. Thus, the studied pomegranate cultivars have shown interesting physical and physicochemical characteristics and a large diversity confirming the problem of homonymy or synonymy in the name of the ‘Sefri’ pomegranate cultivars.