ABSTRACT

 The functional and nutrient content of powders from two cultivars of Nigerian grown pawpaw at different stages of maturation was investigated. Two cultivars of Nigerian grown pawpaw; Red Royale and Sunsrise Solo at different maturation stages; Immature, medium mature and firm ripe mature were processed into powders. The pawpaw powders were analyzed on the proximate, micronutrient composition and functional properties. The functional properties and nutrient content ofthe powders were evaluated. The functional properties ranged from 2.06 to 2.83 g/g, 1.67 to 2.15 g/ml and 3.31 to 4.76% for water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity and swelling index respectively. Proximate composition ranged from 7.04 to 9.61% for moisture content, 6.34 to 11.34% for protein content, 0.34 to 1.27% for fat content, 1.31% to 2.05% for crude fibre, 2.02% to 10.05% for ash content, 65.62% to 81.66% for carbohydrate content and 321.25 to 362.02 kcal/100 g' for energy value. Mineral contents ranged from 2.88 to 3.98 mg/100 g for iron, 1,48 to 2.14 mg/100 g for zinc, 31.03 to 69.02 mg/100 g for potassium, 6.02 to 12.88 mg/100 g for sodium, 41.85 to 53.61 mg/100 g for phosphorous,- 73.51 to 92.61 mg/100 g for calcium and 33.57 to 28.93 mg/100 g for magnesium contents-. The vitamin contents ofthe powders showed that vitamin Bl ranged between 0.02 to 0.09 mg/100 g, vitamin B2 (riboflavin) ranged from 0.05 to 0.10 mg/100 g, vitamin B3 content ranged from 0.40 to 0.79 mg/100 g, vitamin B9 ranged from 0.03 to 0.06 mg/100 g while vitamin C content ofthe powders ranged between 37.74 to 78.98 mg/100 g. This study successfully evaluated the impact of cultivars and maturation stages on the functional and nutrient contents of powders produced from pawpaw. Both varieties and maturation affects significantly (p<0.05) the functional and nutrient content of pawpaw powders.