title: Differential characteristics in the chemical composition of bananas from Tenerife (Canary Islands) and Ecuador.
abstract: The contents of moisture, protein, ash, ascorbic acid, glucose, fructose, total sugars, and total and insoluble fiber were determined in cultivars of bananas (Gran Enana and Pequeña Enana) harvested in Tenerife and in bananas (Gran Enana) from Ecuador. The chemical compositions in the bananas from Tenerife and from Ecuador were clearly different. The cultivar did not influence the chemical composition, except for insoluble fiber content. Variations of the chemical composition were observed in the bananas from Tenerife according to cultivation method (greenhouse and outdoors), farming style (conventional and organic), and region of production (north and south). A highly significant (r = 0.995) correlation between glucose and fructose was observed. Correlations of ash and protein contents tend to separate the banana samples according to origin. A higher content of protein, ash, and ascorbic acid was observed as the length of the banana decreased. Applying factor analysis, the bananas from Ecuador were well separated from the bananas produced in Tenerife. An almost total differentiation (91.7%) between bananas from Tenerife and bananas from Ecuador was obtained by selecting protein, ash, and ascorbic acid content and applying stepwise discriminant analysis. By selecting the bananas Pequeña Enana and using discriminant analysis, a clear separation of the samples according to the region of production and farming style was observed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Science, University of La Laguna, 38201 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
authors.forename: Markus Paul
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Forster
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Rodríguez
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Díaz Romero
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D002980:Climate; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000032:analysis; D004484:Ecuador; D005632:Fructose / Q000032:analysis; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry*; D005947:Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D028521:Musa / Q000737:chemistry*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D010940:Plant Proteins; D005632:Fructose; D005947:Glucose; D001205:Ascorbic Acid