| heal.abstract |
Growth of a pollinated fig fruit (Ficus carica L. cultivar 'Tsapela') in Southern Greece followed a typical double sigmoid curve divided into three phases; I and III with rapid growth rates and II with slow growth. Measurements on whole fruits showed that Phase II was characterized by increased firmness, titratable acidity and total pectin concentration. Acidity and total pectin reached their maxima at the end of Phase II. Concentrations of soluble pectin, glucose, fructose and sucrose remained low up to Phase III. During the rapid growth in Phase III, firmness, titratable acidity and total pectin decreased, whereas soluble pectin, glucose, fructose and sucrose concentration increased considerably. Sucrose was always a minor sugar. Starch was found at very low levels at all measured stages. Flesh colour, measured by a Hunter colour difference meter, showed a consistent increase in ""a"" value during the entire period of fruit development. © 1990. |
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