The ascorbic-acid values of cantaloups [sic]

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NS7 MEXICO COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AMD LECHANIC ARTS
A1ID AGRICULTURAL SXPEREiEilT STATIC* *«"«> Co!>n*
Press Bulletin 998
THE ASCORBIC-ACID VALUES OF CANTALOUPS
Recent research on the vitamin content of cantaloups /l has emohasized the importance of this fruit as a source of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), which is espcciallv
yaluable because cantaloups are quickly and easily grown and are plentiful during " ■
the part of the year when citrus fruits, the most outstanding source of this vitamin
aro relatively scarce end expensive. Cantaloups grow well'in certain sections of
Now Mexico and havo long been grown for home consumption or for sale to the local
trade. In the past few years several hundred carloads of cantaloups havo been ship-
pod to Eastern markets from the Mesilla Valley of southern New Mexico. It is the
purpose of this report to summarize the data obtained in a study of the ascorbic-
acid contents of several varieties of cantaloups grown in the Mesilla Valley during
the summer of 1944.
Ascorbic acid was determined by measuring the bleaching effect of an cccalic-
acid extract of the cantaloup on a solution of 2,6 diclilorphonolindophenol dye. An
Evelyn colorimeter was used and corrections for turbidity and color were made by
Bessey's method. /2_   Four analyses were made on each melon. The cantaloup was cut
into quarters by cutting from tho stem to the blossomcnd. A wedge-shaped lengthwise section, weighing approximately 35 grams after removal of the rind, ¥ras cut
from each quarter, weighed, covered immediately with 250 ml. of a one-half percent
solution of oxalic acid, and ground in a '.Taring blender. Five-milliliter portions
of the filtered extract were further diluted to 50 or 100 ml. (depending on the
ascorbic-acid content) and 5-ml. portions of the resulting solution were taken for
analysis.
In cutting the cantaloups into quarters, most were cut so that one sample was
taken from the part of tho melon resting on the ground, another from the opposite
side, which was most exposed to the light, end the third and fourth samples from the
two remaining sides. The mean value of tho samples cut from the part of tho cantaloup resting on the ground was very slightly lower then the mean values of the other
parts of the melon, being (for 63 cantaloups) 49.6 mg. per 100 grams of edible portion, as compared with 50.6 mg. for the top quarter and 50.7 and 51.1 mg. for the
two side sections.
The varieties studied included Arizona 45, Arizona 13, Hale's Best, Rocky Ford,
and a variety said to be Pollock 10-25, but'-which did not correspond in all respects
to oublishcd descriptions of this variety. This cantaloup was oval in shape with
a green rind which was only faintly netted. The seed cavity was small. The flesh
was orange in color, whereas Pollock 10-25 is listed as a green-fleshed cantaloup. £3_
The Arizona 13 variety was grown on the College Horticultural farm from seed
supplied by the Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station. The Arizona 45 cantaloup,
the common shipping variety of this region, was obtained at a local packing sned and
at a local store. The other varieties were obtained from local farmers or iron local
merchants just after the cantaloups had boon delivered by the farmer.
/! . Mimeograohod Report 53, Arizona Agricultural Experiment Stati n.
/2~.    Journal of Biological Chemistry, vol, 126, p. 771, 1938.
2JL« n« y« Asric. Er.pt. Station; the Vegetables of New York.