Analysis and evaluation of nutritional composition of big quince in Shache county of Xinjiang

The fruit quality indicators such as single fruit weight,fruit hardness,protein,reducing sugar,total acid,flavonoids,dietary fiber,10 kinds of minerals and 17 kinds of amino acids were determined to evaluate the nutritious components of Shache big quince.The results showed that there were 17 kinds of amino acids in Shache big quince among them essential amino-acids were 1.06 mg/g accounting for 34% of total amino acids which close to the WHO/FAO reference model(40%). The first and second limiting amino acidis were threonine(Thr) and leucine(Leu). In comparison with other fruits(apples,pears),Shache big quince had higher flavonoids(19.08 mg/g),dietary fiber(3.5 g/100 g) contens and lower protein contents(0.25 g/100 g) with partial acidic taste(sugar-acid ratio :4.49). Minerals in Shache big quince such as copper(2.05 mg/kg),sodium(5.91 mg/100 g),magnesium(8.31 mg/100 g),calcium(10.76 mg/100 g) and potassium(133.66 mg/100 g)were higher than in other fruits,especially the Ca/P=0.83 closed to healthy food requirement Ca/P =1. Shache big quince was one of the important kernel fruits with highly nutritional value,which could be further developed and utilized.