Chemical composition of persimmon cultivars grown in Crimea

The comparative evaluation of the chemical composition of seven perspective persimmon cultivars grown in Crimea was presented in this paper. Persimmon fruits of studied cultivars are the sources of sugars, organic acids, pectins, polyphenols, minerals, vitamin C and β-carotene. Soluble solids content in fruits was high, ranging from 19.4 to 28.0%. It mostly consisted of sugars (16.7-20.6%), dominated by monosaccharides (glucose and fructose). Organic acids content was low and ranged from 0.21 to 0.45%. The most represented were malic and citric acid. Content of pectins varied from 0.42 to 1.16%. In 100 g of persimmon fruit fresh weight (FW) the average content of ascorbic acid was 21.2 mg. The minimum quantity of 12.3 mg was determined in 'Hyakume', whereas 'Zolotistaya' had the maximum quantity of 59.0 mg 100 g^-1 FW. β-carotene content varied from 1.91 ('Hana Fuyu') to 6.33 mg 100 g^-1 FW ('Yuzhnaya Krasavitsa') or in average 1.82 mg 100 g^-1 FW. Polyphenol compounds determined in persimmon fruits were catechins, leucoanthocyanin and flavonols. The content of the following mineral elements: potassium (K), magnesium (mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) were also determined. In conditions of the South Coast of the Crimea the persimmon fruits accumulate a small quantity of Zn. Nevertheless, its content in 'Suvenir Oseni' is 2.0-2.5 times higher compared to those found in the other cultivars.