Physico-chemical changes during growth and development of papaya fruit. Ι: Physical changes

摘要

Physical changes during growth and development of female and hermaphrodite fruits of ‘EkostikaΙ’, ‘Ekostika II’ and ‘Baladi’ papaya fruits were studied. The fruits of both types of the threecultivars followed typical simple sigmoid curves. Fruit fresh weight and volume progressivelyincreased up to physiological maturity (120 days after anthesis, DAA) and remained constantafterwards. The female fruits of the three cultivars were shorter and wider and with higher freshweight and volume at maturity, compared to hermaphrodite fruits. Respiration curves of both fruittypes of the three papaya cultivars exhibited a typical climacteric pattern. Respiration rateprogressively declined to a minimum value at physiological maturity (120 DAA) and thenincreased in a climacteric pattern with peak of respiration at 140 DAA. Fruit flesh firmness slightlydecreased up the physiological maturity and then sharply declined in a similar manner. Most ofthat decline occurred during the ripening phase (125-145 DAA). Papaya fruits should beharvested shortly (5-10 days) after physiological maturity, where the fruit attains maximum sizeand weight, it is still firm and climacteric rise phase has just started.