Effect of storage materials on viability and proximate composition of <i>Garcinia kola</i> Heckel

Abstract

The viability and proximate composition of Garcinia kola Heckel as affected by different storage materials were studied using standard methods. Viability of the G. kola seeds stored in polyethylene bag (PB) was highest (100%) followed by that of the seeds stored in fresh plantain leaf (FPL) (86.67 ± 13.33%); cement bag paper (CBP) (73.33 ± 17.64%); dry plantain leaf (DPL) (60.00%) and the control which was exposed to the ambient temperature in the laboratory (33.33 ± 6.67%). Seeds stored in sawdust were not viable at the end of the experiment. Pre-storage proximate analyses showed that the seeds have high level of carbohydrates (52.00%), high moisture content (38.07%), and little amount of crude fat (4.18%), crude fibre (2.88%) and crude protein (2.09%) as well as negligible amount of ash content (0.78%). Results of post – storage proximate analyses showed that control seeds have higher carbohydrate, crude fibre, ash and crude protein contents with mean values of 80.71 ± 0.05%, 3.74 ± 0.01%, 1.11 ± 0.13% and 3.16 ± 0.01% respectively, compared to the results obtained from pre – storage proximate analysis. Moisture content of control seeds was lowest (9.24±0.03%) compared to seeds stored in the other storage materials. Seeds stored in polythene bag showed the lowest carbohydrate and crude protein contents of 47.65 ± 0.17% and 1.80±0.01% respectively. The same storage material contained highest amount of moisture (44.21 ± 0.76%). Seeds stored in cement bag, sawdust, fresh plantain leaf and dry plantain leaf have varying contents of carbohydrates, moisture, ash, crude fibre, crude fat and crude protein contents which were either higher or lower than those of the control and the polythene bag. The results showed that polythene bag favoured the longevity of the seeds as complete retention of viability occurred after 8 weeks in storage when compared to other storage materials. However, carbohydrate and protein in seeds were significantly reduced in this storage material.

Keywords: Garcinia kola, post-storage, pre-storage, proximate analyses, storage materials, viability