Some nutritional and physical properties of crab apple (Malus silvestris Mill.) fruit

Some nutritional and physical properties of crab apple (Malus silvestris Mill.) growing wild in Ermenek (Karaman) location were established. The mineral contents of fruit were established by ICP-AES. The major minerals were 2549.3 mg/kg Ca, 96.3 mg/kg Fe, 866.6 mg/kg Mg, 2814.0 mg/kg Na and 2562.4 mg/kg P. Also, physical properties such as length, mass, sphericity, fruit density, bulk density, porosity, projected area and fruit hardness were measured. The static and dynamic coefficients of friction for crab apple fruit were determined with respect to iron sheet and galvanized steel surfaces. The coefficient of dynamic friction decreased compared with the coefficient of static friction of fruits. These results show that crab apple fruit may be useful for the evaluation of dietary information in important food crops. Also, it is important to know the physical properties of equipment used in planting, harvesting, transportation, storage and processing of crab apple fruits.