Artichoke
Description
Scientific Name: Malus pumila, Malus Sylvestris
Common Name: Apple
Apple is a Pome fruit. A Pome is a fleshy fruit with thin skin, not formed from the ovary but from another part.The seeds are contained in chamber in the center of fruit. Thousands of varieties of apples are grown world wide. The skin color of apples can range from red to yellow to green. Apple is crispy and juicy fruit.It size can vary from 2 to 4 inches.
Nutrition Value
Apples are good source of dietary fiber pectin. It is a good source of Vitamin C.
Health Benefits
Soluble fiber pectin which is rich in apples helps to reduce blood cholestrol. Quercetin, a flavonoid found in apple fight against cancer.
Varieties
Thousands of varieties of apples are available world wide.Red delicious,Golden delicious,Gala,Fuji,McIntosh and Rome beauty are some popular varieties in U.S.
Botanical Facts
Apples need a certain amount of chilling hour (dormant period-some hours below 45 degree F) to trigger the development of leaf and flower buds. Apple trees take four or five years to produce their first fruit.Dwarf and semidwarf trees require as few as 2 years to fruit. Standard trees reach a height and spread of 25 feet while dwarf trees 10-12 feet and semidwarf trees 15-18 feet. Apple blossoms are pink when they open but gradually fade to white.
Select and Store
An apple skin should be shiny. Also with firm flesh and free of bruises and punctures and soft spots.To ripen apples store them at room temperature.Apples store well for long periods,refrigerated or in a cool,dry place.
Uses
A whole apple is more nutrious than drinking juice and also eat it fresh. Apples are used in salads, deserts, juices, pies, breads, cakes and also in alcoholic beverages. Sliced apples turn brown on exposure.
Nutrition Chart
| Energy(kCl) | 52 |
| Water(gms) | 85.56 |
| Fat(gms) | 0.17 |
| Protein(gms) | 0.26 |
| Carbohydrates(gms) | 13.81 |
| Fiber(gms) | 2.4 |
| Vitamins | |
| Fat Soluble | |
| Vitamin A(mcg-RAE) | 3 |
| Vitamin D | - |
| Vitamin E(mg) | 0.18 |
| Vitamin K(mcg) | 2.2 |
| Water Soluble | |
| Vitamin C(mg) | 4.6 |
| Vitamin B | - |
| Riboflavin(mg) | 0.026 |
| Pyridoxine(B6)(mcg) | 0.041 |
| Minerals(mg) | |
| Calcium | 6 |
| Iron | 0.12 |
| Magnesium | 5 |
| Phosporous | 11 |
| Potassium | 107 |
| Sodium | 1 |
| Zinc | 0.04 |
| Copper | 0.027 |
| Manganese | 0.035 |
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