Internal breakdown in mango fruit: changes in cell wall compounds.
Chitarra M. I. F., Chitarra A. B., Lima L. C. de O.
Author Affiliation: Food Science Department, Universidade Federal de Lavras, MG, PO Box 37-CEP 37200-000, Lavras, MG, Brazil.
: 91-96
Abstract : Tommy Atkins mangoes were harvested at the mature-green stage and submitted to X-ray analysis to identify the incidence of internal breakdown (IB). Both healthy and damaged fruits were stored at 12±2°C and 88±3% RH for 28 days. As ripening progressed during storage, firmness and cell wall cellulose and polyuronide contents decreased to low values in both groups of fruit, but fruits with IB had higher cell wall polyuronide contents than healthy ones, suggesting a reduction in the metabolic activity of mangoes with IB, leading to a decrease in the depolymerization of complex polysaccharides in the cell wall. High levels of arabinose, galactose, rhamnose, xylose, mannose and glucose were present in the cell walls of both groups of fruit, with arabinose, galactose and xylose predominating in damaged fruits.