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(c) Establish the system of value-added utilization on pumpkin residues from seedling industry

Achievement:The pulp is the main by-product of pumpkin seeds production, which accounts for 90-95% of the fruit weight. Every year, Taiwan produces about 260 metric tons of pulp by-products from the production of pumpkin seeds. A large number of pulp by-products often cause environmental problems and waste resources. The research intends to conduct fruit characters survey of pumpkin varieties (lines) in the market, so as to establish background information on various pumpkin varieties (lines) suitable for processing. The use of primary agricultural processing technology will make the pulp into pumpkin powder to reduce the problem of waste generated during the production of pumpkin seeds, in order to increase the use value of pumpkin and increase the overall income of seed companies. This year we collected 21 pumpkin varieties (lines), through fruit characters data were screened out five pumpkin varieties (lines) were simple drying milling processing assessment and test blanching and peeling process effects to pumpkin powder color. The results showed that at 60 degrees Celsius, not blanching conditions have better pumpkin powder coloring performance, future plans will be related to nutrition and physical and chemical composition of pumpkin powder products and their derivative products.

the effect of  blanching , peeling on the color of  pumpkin  under different temperature drying treatment, left to right are 50, 60 and 70 degree Celsius.
Fig.1. the effect of  blanching , peeling on the color of  pumpkin  under different temperature drying treatment, left to right are 50, 60 and 70 degree Celsius.