JOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY, vol.26, no.5, pp.441-447, 2003 (SCI-Expanded)
The mineral composition of medlar fruit collected (June 15 - October 8) in Turkey at five stages of development was studied. In the fruit, 32 minerals were analyzed and 16 minerals (Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, Co, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Sr, Ti and Zn) were present at detectable levels. The ripe medlar fruit was richest in potassium (7370 mug/g dry wt), calcium (1780 mug/g dry wt), phosphorus (1080 mug/g dry wt), magnesium (661 mug/g dry wt) and sodium (183 mug/g dry wt). During the fruit development, Al, Ba, Fe, Mn, P, Sr, and A were highest in August (unripe fruits) while the concentrations of K, Ca, Mg and Cu gradually decreased throughout development. The ripe medlar fruit is an important source of nutritionally needed minerals and trace elements, in particular Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na and A, for human populations in southeastern Europe, Turkey and Iran.