Abstract:
Avocado is the most important fruit with high nutritional value in the tropics and subtropics. It is a widely
grown cash crop in south, southwest, and east part of Ethiopia. The quality of avocado fruits can be
evaluate based on worldwide accepted indicators of fruit quality i.e., moisture content, pH, total soluble
solid, acidity, ash content, fat content, and protein content. In Ethiopia, the fruit quality of different
varieties has been studied based on effect of agroecology location. However; the fruit nutritional
values and phytochemical contents of different varieties at different stages of maturity has not been yet
reported. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of maturity stages in
relation to varieties of avocado fruits on their nutritional and phytochemical quality Four varieties of
avocado fruits (Hass, Fruet, Ettinger and Nabal) at three different maturity stages (early or unripen, mid
or ripen, and late or over ripen stages) were collected from Wachemo University, Agricultural Research
and Technology Transfer Center, Lambuda Research Farm, Central Ethiopia Region, Ethiopia. Two
different trends were observed in this study. Highest physiochemical properties (TSS (10.80), Ash
content (2.29) and TSS: TA ratio (67.5), highest phytochemical content (vitamin C (2.95), TPC
(94.23) and TFC (54.84) were observed in mid stages. At this stage, Ettinger followed by Hass showed
highest contents among all varieties and also observed lowest pH (6.17) and moisture content
(78.44) when compared with corresponding stage with other varieties. However; highest fiber
(20.1%), TA (0.26%), carotenoid (25.81mg/100g) and protein (1.59%) contents were observed in
early stage and highest fat content was observed in late stage (81.19%). At these stages, Ettinger
followed by Hass also showed highest contents among all varieties except carotenoid which have
highest in fruete. The obtained results indicated that stages of maturity had significant effect on the
quality indicators and phytochemical contents among all varieties of avocados fruits. The study showed
Significant difference (P>0.05) between investigated parameters was noted between early, mid and late
stage of fruits among all varieties of fruits except pH measurements. The results revealed that
investigated parameters (physicochemical, proximate composition and phytochemical analysis)
are vary within variety and maturity stages. Therefore, this research would be identified optimal
avocado maturity stages and variety for superior nutritional quality, providing valuable
information for consumers, the industry, and farmers. It is recommended for avocado cultivation
and consumption to maximize nutritional benefits.