Biochemical composition of Philippine Mulberry (Morus spp.) fruits

Mulberry (Morus alba L.) fruits from five varieties were gathered during the dry (March-April) and wet (July-August) seasons. Two hundred fifty (250) grams of fruits of each of the varieties were tested at the Regional Standards and Testing Laboratories- Department of Science and Technology Region 1, Philippines for ash, moisture content (MC), crude protein (CP), crude fat (CF), total carbohydrates (TC) and sodium contents. Fruit samples were also submitted to the Food Technology Laboratory of DMMMSU-MLUC Sugar, pH, Titratable acidity (TA), anthocyanin and Vitamin C. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in Factorial CRD and significant differences among the means were determined by Tukey's Honest Significant Difference (HSD) test. Results revealed that during dry season, Alf-004 berries were high in ash (0.88g/100g), CP (1.62g/100g), TC (74.40g/100g) and Vitamin C (0.09g/100g). Also, Alf-058 fruits were high in sodium (16mg/100g) and pH (5.10). Alf-025 berries were high in anthocyanin content (64.45 g/100g). Alfonso berries were high in CF (0.69 g/100g), sugar (17.50g/100g) and Vitamin C (0.11 g/100g). However, during wet season Alf-004 berries were high in ash (1.14g/100g), CP (2.60g/100g), CF (0.67g/100g), Sodium (36g/100g), anthocyanin (38.65g/100g) and TA (0.039 g/100). Alfonso berries were determined with high TC (66.76g/100g), Sugar (11.00g/100g), pH (4.43), anthocyanin (39.80g/100g) and Vitamin C (0.10 g/100g). Alf-023 berries were determined high inmc both during dry and wet seasons. Alf-004 and Alfonso were the varieties identified with higher biochemical components and appeared to be promising for further exploitation besides being identified as high leaf yielding varieties suited for cocoon production.