| dc.description.abstract | An estimated two billion individuals worldwide experience chronic micronutrient and mineral deficiencies as well as malnutrition. This represents 7% of the world's illness burden. Avocado is a widely consumed food that is rich in minerals and fats. The cultivar, climate, maturity level, and geographic growing region affect the quantity and makeup composition of lipids and nutrients. The ideal climate and well-drained soils of Murang'a County favour avocado production. Murang’a County has varied climatic conditions and farm management systems practices that affects the chemical composition of the fruits and hence require regular monitoring to ensure the required international market specifications are met. This study set out to analyse the elemental composition of pulp and seed from four distinct avocado cultivars grown in Murang'a County namely Fuerte, Golden, Pinkerton and Giant. The samples were collected from farms from in three geographical zones at an altitude of between 2200m and 1400m above sea level. Mineral element composition of the pulp and the seed were analysed by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy AAS iCE 3000 series model. The data obtained was analysed using two-way ANOVA at p<0.05%. Elemental composition ranged as follows in the pulp; K 653.70-169.20, Na 0.028-0.096. Ca 1.41-32.20, Mg 0.0663-0.42, Zn 0.078-0.21, Fe 0.0037-0.01, Cu 0.0006-0.010 and as follows for the seed; K 264.70-848.60, Na 0.16-0.43, Ca 0.05-0.18, Mg 16.60-34.50, Zn 0.43-0.79, Fe 0.049-0.16 and Cu 0.0079-0.017 mg/100g. The findings inform producers, manufacturers and the consumers on the quality of the avocados and help determine applications of the pulp and the seed. | en_US |
