The Interaction Between Accessions and Fruit Maturity Stages in Mimusops zeyheri and Its Impact on Postharvest Quality and Nutritional Composition

Mimusops zeyheri Sond is an undervalued indigenous fruit tree with fruits that are consumed as a health snack in rural communities aross Sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to assess the interaction effect of five accessions of M. zeyheri and four fruit maturity stages on some quality and nutritional compositions. Fruits of five M. zeyheri accessions were grouped into four maturity stages for analysis of fruit size, fruit firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, proximate analysis, and amino acids. Accession 6E consistently had the highest size (27.62 mm), while accession 3L (6.40 kg) had the highest fruit firmness. Accession M7 displayed the highest TA (3.20%) at dark green unripe stage (T1). Highest moisture content and protein percentage were recorded in accession HY at T1. This changes were in concomitant to an increase in moisture content and a decrease in ash and protein content. Accessions M7 at T1 to T4 maturity stage exhibited the highest essential amino acids including histidine and threonine, as well as Ca, Mg, and Na. Accessions 3E and 6E at T2 and T3 maturity stage exhibited the highest P, Fe, Zn, and Mn. These findings highlight the variability of physicochemical and nutritional compositions among different M. zeyheri accessions at varying stages of fruit maturity.