Profiling of Short Chain Fructooligosaccharides (scFOS) of Two Ackee (Blighia sapida Köenig) Varieties Through Different Maturation and Ripening Stages

Background: During maturation and ripening, fruits undergo numerous biochemical reactions by either accumulating or degrading different metabolites. Most fruits accumulate sugars during maturation and ripening. Method: This study investigates the profile of short chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS) of two ackee fruit varieties (Blighia sapida Köenig). scFOS of arils (edible) and husk (non-edible) of “cheese” and “butter” varieties were profiled during five different maturation and ripening stages using HPAEC-PAD. Results: Results showed that in arils, glucose increased by 0.6 and 2.7 folds in “cheese” and “butter” varieties, respectively, while fructose variation averaged 20% in arils during maturation. In arils, sucrose increased progressively during maturation by 1.3 to 1.7 folds in both varieties. Surprisingly, three scFOS (1-kestose, nystose and DP-5) have been identified and their contents were variable, but DP5 content was lower in the husk. In the two arils varieties, total saccharides increased significantly during maturation and ripening; however, in the husk, total saccharides increased and then decreased during the last three stages. Total scFOS increased during the first two stages and decreased during the last three stages. Surprisingly, saccharides to scFOS ratio increased in arils during maturation and ripening in the two varieties, while in the husk, the ratio showed a decrease at stage three. Conclusion: Results indicate that more saccharides were accumulated during the last maturation stages, while scFOS accumulated in the first stages. Results also indicate that the edible arils accumulate more carbohydrates than the husks.