Abstract

BOLIVAR-FERNANDEZ, Nidelvia; SAUCEDO-VELOZ, Crescenciano; SOLIS-PEREIRA, Sara  and  SAURI-DUCH, Enrique. Ripening of sugar apple fruits (Annona squamosa L.) developed in Yucatan, Mexico. Agrociencia [online]. 2009, vol.43, n.2, pp.133-141. ISSN 2521-9766.

The ripening pattern and the physiology of sugar apple fruits, which came from an outstanding selection from the Germplasm Selection Program in Yucatán, were determined. Fruits in phase of physiological maturity were harvested and stored at 26±2 °C and 60-70% relative humidity for 4 d, during which measurements were taken for respiration, ethylene and deformation of the whole fruit. Besides, in pulp determinations were also made for: firmness, total soluble solids, acidity available for titration, pH, anthocyanin content, activity of pectinmethylesterases (PME), polygalacturonases (PG), polyphenoloxidases (PPO), and the color parameters hue angle, saturation index and luminosity. A high respiration velocity was found with a climacteric maximum of 243.1 mL CO₂ kg^-1 h^-1, 3 d after the harvest, and an ethylene production lower than 1.0 µL kg^-1 h^-1. The intense metabolism was reflected in an accelerated softening of the fruit, an increase in total soluble solids, % of citric acid and anthocyanin content, as well as a decrease in the pH, hue angle and L value. The PME and PG activity was related to a decrease in firmness and to deformation of the fruit; the PPO activity was higher at the beginning of the post-climacteric phase. The content of anthocyanins increased with ripening and was manifested as one of the pigments involved in pulp color. The sugar apple fruits in this selection reached their best edible quality at the beginning of the post-climacteric phase, with a post-harvest life at 26±2 °C and 60-70 % relative humidity no longer than 4 d.

Keywords : Annona squamosa; anthocyanins; enzymes; ethylene; firmness; respiration.

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