Comparative evaluation of quality characteristics and mineral profile of three avocado (Persea americana L.) culivars commercialized in Portugal: Fuerte, Hass and Ryan

Avocado (Persea americana L.) is a nutritious tropical fruit from the Lauraceae family, widely appreciated for its taste, texture and nutritional value. Moreover, the quality of the fruits is influenced by different factors, namely cultivar and mineral traits. As such, the aim of this study was to compare the quality characteristics and mineral composition of three avocado cultivars (Fuerte, Hass and Ryan) commercially available in Portugal. The fruit samples were assessed for height, diameter, weight, firmness, total soluble solids content (TSS), dry matter and colorimetric parameters (CIE L*, a* and b*) of both the inner and outer fruit tissues. Additionally, the concentration of phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) were determined in the peel, pulp and in the mixture of peel and pulp. The results showed clear differences among cultivars in the parameters analyzed (p<0.05), confirming the distinct quality profiles of the three cultivars. For instance, Hass cultivar presented the highest TSS content (17ºBrix), while Fuerte showed the greatest firmness. Moreover, mineral content differed among fruits tissues, with the peel and pulp showing different accumulation patterns for macro and micro elements. Pb was detected in all samples, with higher concentrations in the peel than in the pulp, varying between 26.33 and 49.67 mg/kg, and 7.33 and 12.4 mg/kg, respectively. Overall, the findings contribute to a better understanding of the compositional variability of avocado fruits marketed in Portugal, and highlight the importance of evaluating potential contamination by heavy metals such as Pb, which may pose food safety and public health concerns.