American Journal of Food Technology1557-45711557-458XAcademic Journals Inc.10.3923/ajft.2008.200.206DzomekuB.M BamR.K Adu-KwartengE. A. AnkomahA. K. DarkeyS. 3200833The agronomic, nutritional composition of the green
stages of fruit and the consumer acceptance of FHIA-21 (tetraploid hybrid
plantain) from Honduran Agricultural Research Foundation was conducted
in the forest region of Ghana. The standard AOAC methods were used to
determine the moisture, crude protein, ash, crude fibre, potassium, iron,
calcium, carbohydrate, sodium and crude fat. Pulp colour was measured
with a Chromatometer. Results on the agronomy indicated that the hybrid
was very tolerant to the black Sigatoka disease with high number of functional
leaves at flowering and at harvest. The crop cycle was comparable to that
of False Horn plantains. The yield performance of the hybrid was high
ranging from 34-38 t ha<-1 across the locations. The yield
values have been stable over the three-year study period. In addition,
the FHIA hybrid plants were relatively short. The physio-chemical composition
results showed that the hybrid had high fat (1.94%) and water (60%) contents.
The potassium content was also high (1060 mg/100 g dry weight) however,
the iron content (0.45 mg/100 g dry weight) was low. The high potassium
level in the hybrid may be an advantage for use as a therapy. The tetraploid
hybrid had bright orange pulp colour which was indicative of the presence
of provitamins and carotenoids. The consumer acceptability results revealed
that FHIA-21 compared favourably with the local triploid (Apem). The hybrid
was accepted for ampesi, fufu and ripe fried plantain. However acceptability
of the hybrid as ripe fried plantain was at ripening stages 3 and 4. Beyond
these stages of ripening, the hybrid could only be used for processed
(mashed) food recipes.]]>Alvarez, J.M.,199761014AOAC.,199415th Edn.,Chandler, S.,19951995Dadzie, B.,19931993Dadzie, B.,19971997Dadzie, B.K. and J.E. Orchard,19971997Dadzie, B.K.,19981998Dzomeku, B.M., M. Osei-Owusu, E. Akyeampong, A.A. Ankomah and D.K. Yeboah,20042004Dzomeku, B.M., M. Osei-Owusu, A.A. Ankomah, E. Akyeampong and S.K. Darkey,20066835837FAO,20052005Gowen, S.,19951st Edn.,pp: 612pp: 612IITA.,19921st Edn.,pp: 208pp: 208Marriott, J. and P.A. Lancaster,19831983pp: 85-145pp: 85-145Meneely, G.R. and H.D. Batterbee,197634225235Ortiz, R. and D. Vuylsteke,19961996pp: 2-7pp: 2-7Stover, R.H. and N.W. Simmonds,19873rd Edn.,pp: 468pp: 468Swennen, R.,1990Pages: 24Pages: 24Van Buren, J.P. and L.A. Pitifer,19925710221023