. Briefly, 0.5 g pectin sample was dissolved in
17 mL distilled water, whereafter 35 g sucrose was added into the
solution and the pH was adjusted to 3 by 12.5% citric acid solution.
The mixture solution was placed at 4 C for 24 h. Before textural
analysis, the prepared pectin gels were placed at room temperature
for 0.5 h. A Texture Analyser TA.XT Plus (Stable Micro Systems, UK)
was used to determine the textural properties of the pectin gel. The
puncture test was performed using a cylindrical probe (5-mm
radius, PC-0.5R). A standard one-cycle program was used to
compress the gels at 0.1 mm/s test speed, 1.0 mm/s pre-test speed,
1.0 mm/s post-test speed, and 1 g originating force. The test was
stopped when a 10-mm depth of penetration had been reached.
The whole procedure was repeated three times at 20 C.