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Title: MATURITY INFLUENCES LYCOPENE SEGREGATION DURING FILTRATION PROCESSING OF RED-FLESHED WATERMELONS

Author
item OIKONOMAKOS, IOANNIS - OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
item MANESS, NIELS - OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
item CHRZ, DONNA - OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
item MCGLYNN, WILLIAM - OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
item Perkins Veazie, Penelope

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/21/2005
Publication Date: 8/1/2005
Citation: Oikonomakos, I.P., Maness, N.O., Chrz, D., Mcglynn, W., Perkins Veazie, P.M. 2005. Maturity influences lycopene segregation during filtration processing of red-fleshed watermelons [abstract]. HortScience. 40(4):1030.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Lycopene from ground watermelon flesh can be segregated between filtrate and filter cake by coarse filtration. Low speed centrifugation of the filtrate can further segregate filtrate lycopene between an easily recoverable precipitated high lycopene pellet and a serum. Lycopene in watermelon flesh increases steadily during maturation and remains constant, or slightly decreases in overripe melons. This study was conducted to document the effect of melon maturity on lycopene segregation during filtration/centrifugal processing. Flesh of three seedless watermelon cultivars was ground and filtered through two layers of Miracloth. Filter cakes were rinsed with water and filtrates were centrifuged at 3500 g to precipitate lycopene. Centrifugal recovery of lycopene from filtrates was about the same for undermature and mature melons (50% to 70%), but was much lower for overripe melons (35% to 45%). This decline in recoverable lycopene from overripe melons could be negated if ground flesh was heated to 60 or 85°C prior to filtration. Lycopene from preheated flesh segregated predominately into the filter cake for all three maturity groupings. The interaction between melon maturity and pre-filtration heating will be evaluated and integrated into a potential watermelon lycopene production system.