Fruit Characteristics and Nutrient Composition of Landrace Morphotypes of Snake Tomato

Abstract

Abstract Snake tomato, Trichosanthes cucumerina L., is used as a substitute for the regular tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum(L.) Mill.) in Nigeria. Information is lacking in the literature on the fruit characteristics and food value of this plant. The fruit characteristics and nutrient composition of three morphotypes of T. cucumerina were studied. Results indicated that average: fruit weight ranged from 438.1-651.4 g; fresh pulp weight from 20.4-37.6 g; seed weight/fruit from 21.8-39.5 g; number of seed/per fruit from 54-70; and 100-seed weight from 39.2-64.1 g. Nutrient composition analyses indicated that seed of the three morphotypes are good sources of crude protein (26.2-26.6 g/100 g), fat (44.6-57.2 g/100 g), phosphorus (78.0-81.5 mg/100 g) and calcium (41.0-46.7 mg/100 g). The pulp is a good source of ascorbic acid (23.1-23.3 mg/100 g), suggesting its possible use for paste and puree. The anti-nutritional oxalate content is low (1.20-2.62 mg/100 g), suggesting that mineral nutrients will not be held...