Determination of selected physical properties of three varieties of shelled and unshelled melon seeds

The physical properties of shelled and unshelled melon seeds for three different varieties: C. cucurbita, C. vulgaris and C. lanatus were investigated at the moisture contents of 5.3, 5.1 and 6.0% dry basis respectively. The axial dimension, mean diameter, sphericity, surface area, porosity, true and bulk density, angle of repose, coefficient of friction of the three varieties of melon seeds were determined using standard methods. The results obtained from the study revealed that length, width, thickness, arithmetic and geometric diameter, sphericity, surface area and 1000 unit mass ranged from 12.81-14.50 mm, 7.02-8.42 mm, 2.22-2.49 mm, 7.36-8.31 mm, 5.84- 6.54 mm, 0.47- 0.53, 134.64-192.23 mm² and 94.0- 110.0g respectively. Sphericity was 0.41, 0.41 and 0.36 for shelled C. lanatus, cucurbita and c. vulgaris, while the values for unshelled varieties are 0.43, 0.42 and 0.41 respectively. Surface area was  116 mm2,139 mm2 and 180 mm2 for shelled C. lanatus, cucurbita and C. vulgaris ,while the values for unshelled varieties are 186 mm2,205 mm2 and 283 mm2.One thousand unit mass was 89.6g,82.2g and 95.8g for shelled C. lanatus, cucurbita and C. vulgaris ,while the values for unshelled varieties are  98g,94g,and 110g respectively. Angle of repose was 26.3o, 25.4 o and 26.1 o for shelled C. lanatus, cucurbita and C. vulgaris, while the values for unshelled varieties are   23.6o, 20o and 23.5o respectively. Bulk density was 458 g/mm3, 389 g/mm3 and 423 g/mm3 for shelled C. lanatus, cucurbita and C. vulgaris, while the values for unshelled varieties are 543 g/mm3, 405 g/mm3, and 446 g/mm3 respectively. Finally porosities of 34.8%, 47.9% and 48.5% were obtained for shelled C. lanatus, cucurbita and C. vulgaris, while the values for unshelled varieties are 37.3%, 53.7% and 48.5% respectively.