Classification, Growth, Development & Ripening Flashcards
Tropical:
Requires a warm and moist climate to grow
Some can withstand dry climate
Significant variation in soil types
Sensitive to cold climate
Subtropical
Intermediate temperature
Adapted well with any variation in the presence
of light or darkness
Temperate
Adequate rainfall
Need cold/chilling weather to grow
Soil normally is shallow and acidic
Harvesting Time-seasonal
Depend on region and crops ability
to grow in a specific season
Western:
Spring (strawberry, cherry)
Summer (blueberry, peach)
Fall/Autumn (apple, pear)
Winter (grapefruits, lemon)
Harvesting Time-Non-Seasonal
Non-Seasonal
Available all year around
Respiration rate-Climacteric Fruits
Their ripening process is associated
with significant production of ethylene
These fruits can ripen after harvest depend on their ethylene production
EG papaya banana stonefruits
Respiration Rate-Non-Climacteric Fruits
Normally they are ripened without ethylene
Can only ripen as long as they are attached to the parental plant.
Examples: watermelon, pomelo, limes
Classification of Vegetables- 9 classes
Bulb-shallot, leek
Flowers-Broccoli
Fungi-mushrooms
Leaves-kale, spinach
Fruits-capsicum, pumpkin, eggplant
Roots-beetroot, carrot, parsnip
Seeds-pea. sweetcorn
Stems-asparagus
Tubers-potato, yam
3 Stages of Physiological Development
Growth, Maturation, Senescence
Growth of fruits
cell division, enlargementa
Maturation
occurrence of various physiological and
biochemical activities as per fruit commodities
Senescence
“the period when anabolic (synthetic)
biochemical processes give way to catabolic (degradative) processes, which lead to ageing and death of the tissue”
Ripening (12 elements)
Seed maturation
Color changes
Abscission
Respiration rate
Ethylene production
Tissue permeability
Composition of pectic substances
Carbohydrate composition
Protein
Organic acid
Flavor/Aroma development
Wax development of skin
Seed Maturation
Embryo Genesis:
Endosperm
Protoplasm
Matured Seed
Embryo Genesis
Seed organs can be recognized (e.g., cotyledons, hypocotyl)
Endosperm
This part is formed after division ends
Protoplasm
Dehydration of protoplasm due to the interruption of water and
nutrient supplies causes the reduction in the metabolic activities
Matured Seed
After the dehydration of protoplasm-matured seed
Abscission
abscission promoting hormones:
abscisic acid and ethylene (depend on
types of fruits and vegetables)
Respiration Rate-Respiration process:
Glycolysis: anaerobic process in cytosol
TCA cycle: organic acids in mitochondria
Electron transport system:- physiologically
measurable uptake of O2 and is linked to the
production of ATP
Ethylene
controls ripening process of fruits by stimulating the
expression of the gene for chlorophyllase
Issues of ethlene
Accelerated ripening
Bitterness (certain commodities)
Accelerated yellowing
Commodities become prone to diseases
Tissue Permeability
Tonoplast surrounds vacuoles, which the former is semi permeable membrane
Membranes allow water permeation and no solutes or proteins and nucleic acids are allowed
The turgidity of cell: crispness of the fruits/vegetable
Protopectin: “insoluble parent form of pectic substances”
Cross-linked to other polymer via Calcium bridges
ʻIt is bound to other sugars and phosphate derivatives