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Abstract
Mineral contents of strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa), mulberry (Morus alba, M. nigra, M. macroura, and M. laevigata) and cherry (Prunus avium) fruits at un-ripened, semi-ripened and fully-ripened stages were investigated. The concentrations (mg kg−1) of potassium (K), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) in the fruits (DW), at fully-ripened stage, varied from 2600 (mulberry) to 3300 (strawberry), 1854 (cherry) to 2954 (mulberry), 1855 (cherry) to 4375 (mulberry) and 1025 (cherry) to 2225 (mulberry), respectively. Sizeable amounts (mg kg−1) of Zn 408 (strawberry) to 1110 (mulberry) and Fe 236 (cherry) to 1080 (mulberry) were also determined. Moreover, the tested fruits contained considerable amounts of sodium (Na), manganese (Mn), aluminum (Al), and copper (Cu). Overall, the concentrations of these minerals except K were found to decrease as fruit maturity progressed. The tested fruits, especially Morus species, can be explored as a rich source of Zn and Fe, the two essential elements that are in short supply in human diet.