The viability and proximate composition of
Garcinia kola
Heckel as affected by different storage
materials were studied using standard methods. Viability of the
G. kola seeds stored in polyethylene bag (PB) was highest
(100%) followed by that of the seeds stored in fresh plantain leaf (FPL) (86.67 ± 13.33%); cement bag paper (CBP) (73.33
± 17.64%); dry plantain leaf (DPL) (60.00%) and the control which was exposed to the ambient temperature in the
laboratory (33.33 ± 6.67%). Seeds stored in sawdust were not viable at the end of the experiment. Pre-storage proximate
analyses showed that the seeds have high level of carbohydrates (52.00%), high moisture content (38.07%), and little
amount of crude fat (4.18%), crude fibre (2.88%) and crude protein (2.09%) as well as negligible amount of ash content
(0.78%). Results of post – storage proximate analyses showed that control seeds have higher carbohydrate, crude fibre,
ash and crude protein contents with mean values of 80.71 ± 0.05%, 3.74 ± 0.01%, 1.11 ± 0.13% and 3.16 ± 0.01%
respectively, compared to the results obtained from pre – storage proximate analysis. Moisture content of control seeds was
lowest (9.24±0.03%) compared to seeds stored in the other storage materials. Seeds stored in polythene bag showed the
lowest carbohydrate and crude protein contents of 47.65 ± 0.17% and 1.80±0.01% respectively. The same storage material
contained highest amount of moisture (44.21 ± 0.76%). Seeds stored in cement bag, sawdust, fresh plantain leaf and dry
plantain leaf have varying contents of carbohydrates, moisture, ash, crude fibre, crude fat and crude protein contents
which were either higher or lower than those of the control and the polythene bag. The results showed that polythene bag
favoured the longevity of the seeds as complete retention of viability occurred after 8 weeks in storage when compared to
other storage materials. However, carbohydrate and protein in seeds were significantly reduced in this storage material.
© JASEM
