Studies on ascorbic acid in coffee plants. I. Distribution in green fruits.

Considerable quantities of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) were found in both the fruit wall and seeds of 5 coffee types studied (Coffea arabica var. Kents, S. 795 and S. 1934, C. canephora S. 274 and C. excelsa). Ascorbic acid was significantly greater (at 1% level) in seeds than in the fruit wall of all types except Kents. Fruit wall of C. arabica S. 795 contained significantly more (at 5% level) ascorbic acid than the other 4 types and in seeds it was in the following order: C. canephora S. 274 greater than C. arabica S. 795 greater than C. arabica S. 1934 greater than C. arabica Kents greater than C. excelsa.