The Strawberry (Arbutus unedo L.) fruits: Chemical composition, physical properties and mineral contents

Nutrition and physical properties were established in developing Arbutus unedo L. Fruits from Mersin (Lapa-Gülnar) to investigate potential uses. Completely maturated fruits ash, crude oil, crude energy, crude fiber, crude protein, water soluble extract, ether-soluble extract, alcohol-soluble extract, dimethyl sulfite (DMS), essential oil content and minerals including K, P, Ca, Na and Fe. Also, physical properties such as length, mass, sphericity, fruit density, bulk density, porosity, projected area and terminal velocity were measured. The values of mass, length, diameter, geometric mean diameter and sphericity of strawberry fruit established as 0.70 g, 8.51 mm, 10.7 mm, 9.91 mm and 1.17, respectively. At the same moisture content, fruit density, bulk density, projected area and terminal velocity were determined as 1146.43 kg/m3, 602.23 kg/m3, 0.976 cm2 and 9.46 m/s, respectively. The coefficient of dynamic friction decreased compared with the coefficient of static friction of fruits. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.