Effect of variety and harvest date on pectin extracted from chicory roots (Cichorium intybus L.)

The influence of harvest date on pectin quality and yield of five varieties of chicory is investigated in this work. The pectin is extracted from the raw material with an acidic treatment at 85 °C for an hour after inulin extraction. Main changes due to harvest date are observed in terms of neutral sugar content, average molecular weight, esterification degree and extraction yield. The galacturonic acid content remains relatively constant throughout the harvest period. While no statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in terms of galacturonic acid content and neutral sugar content are observed between the five cultivars studied, average molecular weight, esterification degree and extraction yield are significantly affected by the cultivar type. Depending on the harvest date, a broad range of pectins can easily be extracted from chicory pulps.