COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF RED AND WHITE FLESHED DRAGON FRUIT (HYLOCEREUS SPP.)

Dragon fruit is tropical climbing fruit native to Mexico, Central America, Now its cultivation widened in India and worldwide because of its because of its commercial interest, easy cultivation and health benefits. Proximate analysis was carried out for Red and White fleshed dragon fruits according to the methods advised by AOAC and AACC. Results showed no statistically significant differences (p  0.05) in the proximate composition in between the two cultivars. Red and white dragon fruit had moisture contents of 86.63% and 87.43%, Carbohydrates of 11.34% and 10.05%, protein of 0.87% and 0.98%, fat of 0.14 % and 0.16%, ash of 0.9% and 0.8% and dietary fiber of 1.21% and 0.88% respectively. Calorific values were 50.46 Kcal for red and 44.84 Kcal for white dragon fruit.