Physicochemical Characteristics and Fatty Acid Composition of Four Papaya Cultivars Grown under Plastic Greenhouse Conditions

Some physicochemical characteristics like nutritional values, sugar content, and fatty acid composition (FAs) in fruits of four papaya (Carica papaya L.) cultivars ('Red Lady', 'Sunrise Solo', 'Tainung', and 'BH-65') grown under plastic greenhouse conditions in the Mediterranean region of Turkey were evaluated. The chemical characteristics, except acidity in the fruits, significantly varied among the cultivars. Nitrogen (N) was the most abundant mineral in all papaya cultivars and ranged from 0.80 g.100 g(-1) in 'Red Lady' to 1.28 g.100 g(-1) in 'BH-65' in fresh weight. Potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) were found the highest amount in dry weight. Glucose and fructose were identified as the main sugars in all cultivars. Sucrose was in trace amounts in the three cultivars, but not detectable in cultivar 'Red Lady'. Twenty-five FAs were detected in the papaya fruits. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were found to be in a highest amounts compared to the saturated fatty acid (SFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). Palmitic (C16:0), oleic (C18:1), and linoleic (C18:2n6) acids were the major fatty acids detected in all cultivars. The results of this study implied that dietary intake of papayas may supply substantial nutrient components necessary for human health.