Analysis of Sugar Composition in Nut Crops

Abstract

This study evaluated some fruit traits and kernel sugar components in nut crops (pistachio, walnut, hazelnut and almond) collected from different accessions of Turkey. Pistachio varieties had 0.44-0.64 kernel weight and 49.4-59.4 % kernel percentage. Walnut genotypes had 5.80-7.20 g kernel weight and 45.0-46.4 % kernel percentage. Kernel weights and kernel percentages recorded for hazelnut (Tombul var.) and almond (E-1) were 0.98 and 1.14 g and 51.5 and 26.8 %, respectively. Kernel sugar components were detected by using HPLC. Pistachio kernels belonging to different varieties contained 1.13 (Ohadi)-5.04 (Siirt) g/100 g fructose, 1.01 (Siirt) - 4.25 (Kirmizi) g/100 g glucose, 2.58 (Uzun) - 4.74 (Buttum) g/100 g sucrose and 0.26 (Kirmizi) - 0.99 (Halebi) g/100 g maltose. Walnut genotypes contained 0.35-2.67 g/100 g fructose, 0.13-6.26 g/100 g glucose, 1.76-4.17 g/100 g sucrose and 0.23-0.74 g/100 g maltose. Sugar components of hazelnut and almond were 0.80 and 4.00 g/100 g fructose, 1.52 and 0.86 g/100 g glucose, 2.91 and 3.23 g/100 g sucrose, 0.91 and 1.08 g/100 g maltose, respectively. Amounts of sugar components and the mean sugars varied to varieties, genotypes and different accessions.