DIFFERENCES IN STEROL COMPOSITION AND MIC ROSTRUCTURE BETWEEN FRUITS FROM CUCURBITACEAE AND ROOTS FROM CRUCIFERAE IN CANDYING INDUSTRY AND PRODUCTS

The commercial name ''candied Fruit'' usually implies the presence of fruits from Cucurbitaceae, such as melon or watermelon, as the main in gredient in the starting material. The end product is occasionaly adul terated, when these fruits are replaced by roots from Cruciferae. Ster ols determination and identification and microscopical examination are of great help in identifying the plant material present in the proces sing line and the final products. Sterol compositions differ significa ntly: alpha-spinasterol and delta-7 stigmasterol are the two main comp onents present in fruits from Cucurbitaceae; campesterol and beta-sito sterol predominate in roots from Crucifers. Under the microscope, only reticulated vessels are found in turnip roots; in melon vascular tiss ues, reticulated vessels are frequently associated with spiral or stri ped vessels. These features are useful diagnostic aids in the microsco pic identification of botanical origin.