Author : Wilaiwan Paenkhao

Summary : Variations in the physical characteristics of the nut, and physiochemical and chemical (proximate analysis) characteristics of liquid and solid endosperm of young nuts of twelve coconut varieties including seven varieties from PCA-ZRC (PIL, GAL, ARO, TAC, CAT, CXL, and MYD); two from Southern Tagalog Region (TIN and MAR); and another three from Thailand (HOM, SAM, and WAN) were studied. The most suitable coconut variety for commercial production of young coconut was also identified based on a standard set by C&A products Co., Ltd., Thailand. Statistical analysis showed there was significant variation among PCA-ZRC varieties for all variable except % crude fat and % carbohydrate. For the physical characteristics of young nut, the following, aside from SAM, a thai commercial variety, (1) Galas Green Dwarf (GAL), (2) Tacunan Green dwarf (TAC) and (3) the commercial variety from Tinurik, Batangas (TIN) passed the standard. Analysis of the physiochemical properties showed that all of the coconut varieties passed the standard for % TSS and pH. Other commercial varieties, ARO, HOM and WAN also showed prominence in sweetness (%TSS), but they did not pass standard for the physical characters. With regards to the nutritional and mineral contents, GAL and TIN also had the highest phosphorus content, SAM, TIN, ARO, and TAC had highest % moisture content while GAL reached an acceptable level of moisture. The preferred low crude fat content was observed in HOM and GAL, while the desired low crude fiber content were found in ARO, TIN, and GAL. The latter two also showed the preferred highest levels of % ash and phosphorus content, while GAL and HOM had the highest % carbohydrate. WAN, MYD, ARO, and TIN had the highest % crude protein while GAL and ARO had the highest calcium content in coconut meat. The highest potassium and lowest sodium contents was obtained from TIN.