• Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.200-205
• /
• 1996

This experiment was conducted to characterize and quantify the free sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltose) contained in many different portions of watermelon (Citrus vulgaris L.) and muskmelon (Cucumis melo var. reticulatus Naud.) fruits by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Free sugars were mainly fructose, glucose, sucrose, and their contents were variable among portions. Total free sugar contents were higher in the stylar end and side than in the stem end of both watermelon and muskmelon. Total free sugar contents increased from the periphery toward the central core in watermelon and except central core content seeds in muskmelon Ratio of nonreducing to reducing sugars [(fructose + glucose)/sucrose] was gradually decreased from the periphery toward the middle area in watermelon, though the central core showed higher value than the middle area. For the edible portion of muskmelon, the ratio was decreased toward middle area, and no significant difference was observed between the central core and the middle area. However, reducing sugars and nonreducing sugar were all increased from the periphery toward the central core in watermelon. In contrast with watermelon, reducing sugars were decreased in muskmelon.