Determination of maturity indices in the main mango cultivars produced in Mexico.
Báez-Sañudo R., Siller-Cepeda J., Bringas T. E., Báez S. M.
Author Affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Apartado Postal 1735, Hermosillo 83000, Sonora, Mexico.
Proceedings of the Interamerican Society for Tropical Horticulture 37 : 148-154
Abstract : Mango fruits of cultivars Tommy Atkins, Haden, Keitt and Kent were harvested at the green-mature stage (30 days before normal harvesting) and placed under simulated marketing conditions (20°C, 60-65% RH). Fruit quality (flesh colour, firmness, TA and TSS), respiration and ethylene production were evaluated every 3 days. At harvest, pulp colour ranged from 7.5Y 9/6 to 10Y 9/4 on Munsell colour charts, TSS ranged from 3 to 7°Brix, TA from 1.0 to 1.7% and pulp firmness from 17 to 22 kg penetrometer force. Fruits ripened normally in 15 days under marketing conditions. During this time, TSS increased to 12°Brix, TA decreased to 0.1% and pulp firmness decreased to 1.0 kg. It was concluded that it is possible to prolong the marketing season by harvesting fruits earlier than normal.