Harvest Maturity in Fruits : a Review

Abstract

Maturity has important implications in harvesting fruits at proper stage so as to have developed proper marketing as well as quality attributes. Immature fruits are more prone to shrivelling and mechanical damage and develop inferior flavour when ripe. Overripe fruits tend to become soft with more susceptible to postharvest physiological disorders than fruits picked at the proper maturity. Thus, for all kinds of fruits, harvest maturity is important Different fruits manifest different signals at the time of maturity. A phasic variation is noted in shape, size, colour, flavour, TSS, acidity, ascorbic acid, polyphenol, tannin, enzyme activity, nutrient composituion, etc. as the fruit approaches harvest maturity Of course, growers perception works well in judging maturity. Actually, a fruit is considered worth harvesting when it attains proper stage of maturity in terms of physical and biochemical parameth quality.