Physicochemical Characterization of Pomegranate (Punica Granatum L.) Native to Jordan During Different Maturity Stages: Color Evaluation Using the Cielab and Cielch Systems

Abstract

Punica granatum L. study is interesting for the functional properties associated to its Phenolic compounds and high volumes of production of this fruit in Jordan. The pomegranate type ”pale arils” from Abu Ziyad valley were evaluated during different stages between 20 to 140 days after full bloom, with techniques of chelation, colorimetry and spectrophotometry. The results show that the increasing of sphericity (0.79 to 0.91), size diameter (65.58 to 90.41 mm), juice yield (46.03 to 55.67%), arils mass (31.70 to 61.23%), TSS total soluble solids (11.01 to 16.80), pH (2.7 to 3.6) and anthocyanins (7.43 to 12.41 Cyannidine 3 glucoside/100 g) were associated with the decreasing of thickness of the rind (4.9 to 2.77 mm), TTA Titrable total acidity (3.5 to 1.1%), TPC Total phenolics (389.61 to 251.52 mg Gallic acid/100 g), flavonoids (0.73 to 0.40 mg Catechine/g), tannins (8940.11 to 3324.79 ppm), AA Antioxidant Activity (63.41 to 48.84%) and Ascorbic acid content (28.91 to 9.48 mg/100 g); presenting significant differences p≥0,5. The paleness of rind and arils is positively related to the anthocyanin content expressed by “a” and “C” color coordinates. The actual investigation demonstrates that high values TSS-pH, low content of tannins and TTA could be successfully indicators of maturity stages rather than the concentration of anthocyanins.