STANDARDIZATION OF METHOD FOR SEPARATION OF SEEDS FROM APPLE FOR RAISING APPLE ROOTSTOCKS
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Date
2013
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Process protocol for mechanical removal of fruit core from apple fruits and separation of seeds from fruit core for
raising apple rootstocks was standardized. Fruit maturity characters viz.TSS, firmness, specific gravity etc. were analyzedto
ensure use of fruits of seven different cultivars of apple of optimum maturity with good seed health. Fruit dimensions viz.
horizontal and vertical fruit diameter, core length as well as core diameter were evaluated for characterizing mechanical
device for coring of apple fruits. On the basis of fruit and core dimensions, mechanical corer consisting of coring tube
internal diameter 22.1 mm, fruit holding cup and plunger device for moving the coring tube was developed. The coring
efficiency of the mechanical apple corer (73.4 kg/h) was found about 5.12 times higher as compared to manual coring
method (14.3 kg/h). For softening of fruit core prior to seed separation the suitability of enzymatic pre treatment of pectinase
and amylase enzymes was evaluated. Mean core diameter after pectinase enzyme treatment was reduced from 22.1 mm to
17.9- 8.5 mm within a concentration range of 0.1- 1.0 per cent within 24-72 hours indicating good coresoftening. Use of
amylase enzyme treatment on the other hand caused only 31.7 per cent reduction in core diameter of apple core. Thus, pre
treatment of fruit core by using pectinase (1 %) enzyme for 24 hours was optimized. The softened fruit core was found
suitable for passing through the mechanical tomato seed separator for separation of seeds. Various parameters of the
mechanical seed separator viz.feed rate of the core, seed damage, seed loss and seed extraction efficiency were analyzed.
The average seed extraction rate in mechanical seed separator (311.53 g/h) was found 18 times higher as compared to
manual seed separation method (17.28 g/h) with negligible seed damage. The germination potential of the seeds separated
through mechanical seed separator was found to be 89.9 % as compared to only 65.3 % germination recorded in seeds
separated from apple pomace left after juice extraction. Thus, method of separation of apple seeds canbe adopted by the
orchardists as well as fruit processing units to serve the apple industry for raising rootstocks.
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