Variability of traits and bioactive compounds in the fruit and pulp of six mamey apple (Mammea americana L.) accessions.

Our objective was to compare fruit morphology, physico-chemistry and bioactive compounds content of the edible pulp of six Mammea americana accessions. The results showed that this fruit was rather big, weighing on average 600 to 1100g depending on the accession, and spherical to oblate-shaped. The pulp represented between 50 and 70% of the weight of the whole fruit. The pulp adhered only partially to the seeds in 5 of the 6 accessions studied, while the last one exhibited full adherence. The fresh pulp was acidic, sweet, succulent and crunchy. The fruits studied had a variety of qualities, providing various opportunities for post-harvest uses: fruit salads, nectar preparation, jams and jellies, or export. We have established for the first time the total phenolic compounds and total flavonoids contents in the pulp of mamey apple fruits. The pulp colour was highly correlated with total phenolic compounds and total carotenoids contents.