PHYSICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS, VITAMIN AND MINERAL COMPOSITION, AND MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF ANANAS COMOSUS L. MERR. (BROMELIACEAE) FRUIT GROWN IN FOULAYAH (KINDIA-GUINEA)

This study forms part of the chemical and microbiological characterisation of a new pineapple crop of the ‘Baronne’ variety in Foulayah, in the Kindia prefecture. Using standard methods and reference standards, we determined several physico-chemical parameters, namely weight, shape coefficient, colour, pH, moisture content, acidity, ash content, total sugars, vitamins C and B2, the minerals K and Ca, total polyphenols and flavonoids, as well as the microbial flora. The results showed that the fruits analysed had an average weight of 1436.47±4.63 g, an elongated shape (Cf >1), a yellow-green colour, and a high water content (85.39±1.26%), an acidic pH of 4.43±0.01 with an acidity of 0.84±0.13% citric acid equivalent. The total sugar content was found to be 10.78±0.05%, and the ash content 0.21±0.03%. The fruit is rich in vitamin C (13.81±0.26 mg/100g) and contains less vitamin B2 (28.37±0.12 µg/100g). The potassium and calcium values are 108.34±1.47 mg/100g and 11.53±0.22 mg/100g respectively. The amounts of phenols and flavonoids are 23.05±0.04 mg/g gallic acid equivalent and 11.26±0.06 mg/g quercetin equivalent, respectively. Bacterial counts were 3.103/g for mesophilic flora and 108/g for yeasts and moulds, indicating good microbiological stability in accordance with the standard.