Studies were carried out to investigate the impact of different drying processes on the chemical quality traits of raw cocoa beans. The pH of less fermented cocoa is higher than the well-fermented cocoa's. The sun-dried beans pH ranged from 4.5 to 5.5, while the pH of both oven-and mixed-dried beans was between 3.8 and 5.2. The sun-dried beans contained lower volatile acidity than oven-dried beans. Artificially dried beans resulted in higher free acidity content when compared to both sun-and mixed-dried beans. Ammonium nitrogen content in raw cocoa beans is not influenced by the drying methods. Free fatty acid content increases slowly but remains below the critical value of 1.75% whatever the drying processes. While oven-dried beans show the FFA content above 0.70% both of sun-and mixed-dried beans are associated with FFA content below 0.70%.

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Native starches were extracted from four new banana hybrids (CRBP 14, CRBP 39, FHIA 17 and FHIA 21) and from Orishele, a plantain variety (Musa spp) used as control. Purity (determined by the polarimetric method), iodine complex absorption spectrum (conducted according to Garcia and Lajolo), size and shape of granules (determined with a scanning electron microscope and an optical microscope equipped with a micrometer), swelling power and solubilization patterns (determined according to Leach et al.) were the characteristics under study. For the four banana hybrids, starch purities range from 96.55 to 97.83%, whereas it stands at a medium value in the case of the control (Orishele variety). The absorption maxima of the starch-iodine complexes for the five cultivars occurred between 620 and 630 nm, with absorption averages ranging between 1.11 and 1.85%. Again, the control variety Orishele has medium value for iodine absorption. The majority of starch granules is of oblong shape, and their lengths range from 3.33 to 56.66 mm. CRBP 14 and CRBP 39 have the largest granule sizes, followed by Orishele; hybrids FHIA 21 and FHIA 17 having the smallest sizes. At high temperatures hybrid FHIA 17 shows the lowest increase of swelling and solubilisation. This hybrid also presents the lowest setback, swelling and solubilisation values. This hybrid also has the smallest starch granule sizes together with the lowest iodine absorption. Apart from starch setback, the other three hybrids (CRBP 14, CRBP 39 and FHIA 21) show characteristics that are superior to those of the control. Hybrid FHIA 17 can be classified as of sweet banana type, whereas the three other hybrids are of plantain type.

Les caractéristiques physico-chimiques de l'eau de coco sont étudiées à cinq stades de la maturation des noix de quatre cultivars de cocotier : le Grand Ouest Africain, le Nain Jaune de Malaisie, le Nain Vert de Guinée Equatoriale et l'hybride PB121 amélioré. Les paramètres étudiés sont le poids de l'eau de coco, le degré Brix, le pH, les teneurs en matière sèche et en sucres. Les résultats obtenus montrent des interactions significatives entre les cultivars et les stades de maturité pour tous les paramètres étudiés. Au cours de la maturation des noix, la diminution du poids de l'eau s'accompagne d'importantes modifications physicochimiques. Chez le Nain Jaune de Malaisie, la teneur maximale en sucres totaux de l'eau de coco de 53 mg/ ml, est atteinte lorsque la noix est âgée de 9 mois. L'analyse chromatographique a permis d'identifier les sucres solubles contenus dans l'eau de coco que sont le glycérol, le sorbitol, le glucose, le galactose, le fructose et le saccharose. Mots clés : Cocotiers (Cocos nucifera L), eau de coco, technologie, Côte d'Ivoire.

Samples of fresh Volvariella volvaceae, dry seeds of Irvingia gabonensis and dry seeds of Beilschmiedia mannii), three traditional vegetables found on the market in Abidjan were studied in relation to their nutrients composition (protein, fat, carbohydrates), energy value, moisture, ash and minerals (Ca, Na, K, Mg, Fe). The results show that: Volvariella vol- vaceae is mushroom distinguished by its high rate of moisture (81% ± 0.530% fresh matter), high carbohydrate content (79.440% ± 0.24% dry matter) and protein content (17.010% ± 0.04% dry matter) very significant. Mineral composition contains more Na (1.880% ± 0.02% dry matter) and K (1.260% ± 0.12% dry matter). Seed of Irvingia gabonensis is rich in lipid (63.610% ± 0.70% dry matter) but it also contains appreciable levels of carbohydrates (23.250% ± 0.17% dry matter), protein (7.230% ± 0. 80% dry matter) and mineral matter (5.910% ± 0, 30% dry matter). These seeds of Irvingia gabonensis contain more K (0.678% ± 0.01% dry matter) and Ca (0.452% ± 0.09% dry matter). Seed of Beil- schmiedia mannii is rich in carbohydrates (92.080% ± 1.20% dry matter), and has a significant protein content (7.160% ± 0.11% dry matter), its mineral composition contains more than K (0.872% ± 0.05% dry matter)