FRUITS 1 Flashcards
what does growing fruit in middle of city help with
shelf life because less transportation
what are fruits
edible part of a plant with seed that grows
from a flower
how are fruits classified
by part of flower they develop from
whats a simple fruit
develop from one flower; pomes and drupes
whats drupe
fleshy, thin, seed enclosed in pit; date, cherry, coconut
whats a pome
thick flesh with seed in core; like apple
what do the seeds of stone fruit break into
hydrogen cyanide (bc of a compound called amygladin), which is a poison
whats an aggregate fruit
One flower several ovaries, like raspberry, strawberry, blackberry
whats mulptlie fruit
develop from cluster of several
flowers; several flowers, several ovaries e.g., Pineapples, figs
what are botanical fruits?
fruits that are normally treated like vegetables, like tomatoes, squash, okra, peppers, cucumbers
what is rhubarb
vegetable usually treated as fruit
how are fruits similar to vegetables
similar cell structure and pigments
describe acidity of fruits
Most fruits have pH < 5.0, Acidity affects flavor
* Range from very acidic (lemons and limes: pH ~2) to mildly acidic (cucumbers and squash: pH ~5)
what do organic acids contribute to
tartness
what are the major organic acids
citric acid and malic acid
what makes up citric acid
citrus fruits, berries, and tropical fruits
what contains malic acid
drupes and pomes
what are the three other kinds of organic acids
- Tartaric acid (grapes)
- Oxalic acid (rhubarb)
- Benzoic acid (cranberries)
what does pectin act as
cement between cell walls, contribute to
structure and firmness; contains several polysaccahrides; Water-soluble, forms gel
what does all pectin contain
methyl pectate: chain of repeating
galacturonic acid units – responsible for gelling
how does pectin change during ripening
Protopectin (immature fruit, no gel) -> pectin (ripe fruit, gels) -> pectic acid(overripe, no gel)
whats protopectin
Large, insoluble molecule, cannot form gel
what do the molecules in pectin do
Linear molecules form a net-like structure that is able to trap water
what happens as fruit overripens
enzymes convert pectin to pectic
acid, which Cannot form gel