Evaluation of Proximate Composition, Selected Minerals and Physicochemical Properties of Fifteen Local Mchare Cooking Bananas
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The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology http://dspace.nm-aist.ac.tz Life sciences and Bio-engineering Masters Theses and Dissertations [LISBE] 2019-11 Evaluation of proximate composition, selected minerals and physicochemical properties of fifteen local mchare cooking bananas Dotto, Joachim NM-AIST https://dspace.nm-aist.ac.tz/handle/20.500.12479/1027 Downloaded from Nelson Mandela-AIST's institutional repository EVALUATION OF PROXIMATE COMPOSITION, SELECTED MINERALS AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF FIFTEEN LOCAL MCHARE COOKING BANANAS Joachim Dotto A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Master’s in Life Sciences of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology Arusha, Tanzania November, 2019 ABSTRACT This study investigated the proximate composition, selected minerals potassium (K), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) and some physicochemical properties of fifteen Mchare cooking bananas mainly consumed in northern Tanzania. Analyses were conducted using the standard methods to ascertain their potential in food-based strategies in order to improve nutrition- sensitive agriculture, address hidden-hunger. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and means were compared. There were significant differences in all parameters assessed. Results further indicated that the moisture content ranged from 65.53 to 74.44 g/100 g; ash 0.66 to 1.45 g/100 g; fat 0.1 to 0.6 g/100 g; fibre 0.9 to 2.8 g/100 g; carbohydrate 21.6 to 30 g/100 g. Mineral content ranged from 306 to 469 mg/100 g; 2.6 to 6 mg/100 g; 0.4 to 0.8 mg/100 g and 0.1 to 0.2 mg/100 g for K, Ca, Fe and Zn, indicating potential nutritional significance. The total titratable acidity (TTA) ranged from 1.5 to 2.3%, total soluble solids (TSS) 1.0 to 2.0 °Brix while pH ranged from 5.4 to 6.0 suggesting a substantial contribution to the sensory attributes of bananas, which is an important sensory attribute to consumers. Cooking bananas could, therefore, play a key role in contributing to alleviating hidden-hunger and food insecurity through developing new food recipes. Keywords: Mchare cultivars, nutritional composition, minerals, physicochemical parameters i DECLARATION I, Joachim Dotto, do hereby declare to the Senate of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology that this dissertation is my own original work and that it has neither been submitted nor being concomitantly submitted for degree award in any other institution. Signature …………………………. Date: …………………….. Joachim Dotto The above declaration is confirmed by: Signature: ………………………….. Date: ……………………. Dr. Athanasia Matemu (Supervisor 1) Signature: ………………………….. Date: ……………………... Prof. Patrick Ndakidemi (Supervisor 2) ii COPYRIGHT This dissertation is copyright material protected under the Berne Convention, the Copyright Act of 1999 and other international and national enactments, in that behalf, on intellectual property. It must not be reproduced by any means, in full or in part, except for short extracts in fair dealing; for researcher private study, critical scholarly review or discourse with an acknowledgment, without the written permission of the office of Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic, Research and Innovation on behalf of both the author and Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology. iii CERTIFICATION The undersigned certify that they have read the dissertation titled, “Evaluation of Proximate Composition, Selected Minerals and Physicochemical Properties of Fifteen Local Mchare Cooking Bananas” and recommend for examination in fulfillment for the requirements for the award of Master’s in Life Sciences of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology. Signature: ………………………….. Date: …………………… Dr. Athanasia Matemu (Supervisor 1) Signature: ………………………….. Date: …………………….. Prof. Patrick Ndakidemi (Supervisor 2) iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would first and foremost like to thank my dissertation supervisors, Dr. Athanasia Matemu of the Department of Food Biotechnology and Nutritional Sciences (FBNS) and Professor Patrick Ndakidemi of Department of Sustainable Agriculture, Biodiversity and Ecosystems Management (SABEM) of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania. The doors to my supervisors’ offices were always open whenever I ran into a trouble spot or had a question about my research or writing. They consistently allowed this dissertation to be my own work but steered me in the right direction whenever they thought I needed it. The authors acknowledge the scholarship and research financial support from the Centre for Research, Agricultural Advancement, Teaching Excellence and Sustainability in Food and Nutrition Security (CREATES-FNS) of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology I would also like to thank the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) - Arusha for provision of study materials (15 Mchare cooking bananas). Special thanks to the IITA experts who were involved in the identification and collection of Mchare bananas in the field for this research project Dr. Allan Brown, Mr. Hassan Mduma and Mr. Noel Madalla. Without their passionate participation and input, the present study could not have been successfully conducted. Finally, I must express my very profound gratitude to my uncle Daudi Sospeter, his wife Paulina Mwangwa and their family for instilling and providing me with unfailing support and continuous encouragement throughout my years of study and through the process of researching and writing this dissertation. This accomplishment would not have been possible without them. Thank you, may the Heavenly Father bless you all abundantly. v DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to the Daudi S. M. Sospeter family members for their kindness, devotion and endless support. Thank you all for always being there for me, your generous heart will always be remembered. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................ i DECLARATION ....................................................................................................................... ii COPYRIGHT ............................................................................................................................ iii CERTIFICATION .................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ......................................................................................................... v DEDICATION .......................................................................................................................... vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ......................................................................................................... vii LIST OF TABLES ..................................................................................................................... x LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................. xi LIST OF APPENDECES ......................................................................................................... xii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS ................................................................... xiii CHAPTER ONE ........................................................................................................................ 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Background of the Problem ............................................................................................ 1 1.2. Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................ 3 1.3. The Rationale of the Study ............................................................................................. 4 1.4. Objectives of the Study ................................................................................................... 4 1.4.1. General Objective .................................................................................................... 4 1.4.2. Specific Objectives .................................................................................................. 4 1.5. Research Questions ......................................................................................................... 5 1.6. Significance of the Study ................................................................................................ 5 1.7. Delineation of the Study ................................................................................................. 6 CHAPTER TWO ....................................................................................................................... 7 LITERATURE REVIEW .......................................................................................................... 7 2.1. Impact of Banana on Food Security in East Africa ........................................................ 7 2.2. An Overview of Banana Cultivars in East Africa ........................................................... 9 vii 2.3. Nutritional Value and Health Benefits of Cooking Bananas ........................................ 13 2.4. Physicochemical Characteristics of Cooking Banana Cultivars ................................... 16 2.5. Sensory