Tropical fruits are grown and developed in high temperature climatic zones, presenting a biodiversity of fruit cultivars varying in structure, characteristics and physiology. Their exotic appearances attract consumers around the world. Many fruits exhibit respiratory and ethylene production patterns associated with fruit maturation. Physiological changes of climacteric fruits depend on independent ripening of the pulp and rind. Practices during production, handling, and storage lead to postharvest disorders of the fruits. Most tropical fruits are sensitive to low-temperature storage with an optimum storage temperature of 13±1°C. Physiological disorders resulting from metabolic responses of the fruit to the storage environment decrease their marketable values. A practical protocol for delivering tropical fruits of good quality to the consumer is to harvest both climacteric and non-climacteric fruits at the proper maturity and apply the proper postharvest handling techniques such as artificial ripening to balance quality concerns with distribution requirements.
Keywords
Double climacteric peaks; Dehusking; Translucent flesh; Gamboges; Pericarp Hardening; Rind/pulp-independent ripening; Uneven ripening; Artificial ripening; Chilling injury
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