COMPARATIVE MINERAL ANALYSIS OF MUSA PARADISIACA (LINN) AT FOUR DIFFERENT STAGES OF POST-HARVESTING
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Plantain (Musa paradisiaca), a tropical staple food that is widely consumed across Africa, Asia, and South America, is a rich source of energy and essential minerals. This study therefore evaluates the changes in mineral composition of Musa paradisiaca across four post-harvest stages (i.e. weeks 0 - 3) so as to determine the exact post-harvest stage or week that is richest in these minerals, and is best for consumption to derive optimal nutritional benefits. A bunch of mature, unripe plantain was harvested from an agricultural farm in Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria. Four fingers of plantain were taken from the bunch and processed into flour each week, starting from the day of harvest, and this represents the different post-harvest stages i.e. wk 0 – freshly harvested, wk 1 – unripe, wk 2 – moderately ripe and wk 3 – over ripe. They were washed, peeled, sliced, dehydrated, and pulverized into fine powder; and then analyzed for mineral composition following established protocols. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Results show that moderately ripe plantain at week 2 has significantly (p ≥ 0.05) higher potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and manganese (Mn) concentrations than the other post-harvesting stages or weeks. The results further reveal that over ripe plantain at week 3 has significantly higher sodium (Na), iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) concentrations than the other stages/weeks.These findings suggest that ripening strongly influences the composition and distribution of minerlas in Musa paradisiaca; and that essential and trace minerals are more abundant in moderately ripe and over ripe stages of plantain at week 2 and week 3 respectively than in freshly harvested (week 0) and unripe (week 1) stages of post-harvesting. Moderately ripe plantain at week 2 and over ripe plantain at week 3 of post-harvesting are therefore recommended for consumption for maximal mineral, nutritional and health benefits.
Keywords: Health, Mineral composition, Musa paradisiaca, Nutritional, Post-harvest
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