Variation in minerals of skin and pulp of different cultivars of plum

The main objective of this investigation was to evaluate the mineral profile of skin and pulp parts of twelve plum cultivars grown in Romania. The concentrations of potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, chromium, manganese, iron, copper and boron were analysed in skin and pulp of plum fruits using ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) and a AAS (flame atomic absorption spectrometer). In this study significant differences (p‹0.05) were observed for each individual mineral between skin and pulp of fruit. Skin and pulp of plum fruits were found to be a good source of potassium (366.6 mg 100 g^-1 FW in skin and 154.19 mg 100 g^-1 FW in pulp), magnesium (57.5mg 100 g^-1 FW in skin and 15.7 mg 100 g^-1 FW in pulp) and calcium (31.7mg 100 g^-1 FW in skin and 6.14 mg 100 g^-1 FW in pulp). Results revealed that plum skin peel exhibited higher mineral content compared to that of the pulp, indicating that removal of skin from fruits may induce significant nutrient losses.