Figure 1. Judging mango harvest maturity by shape of shoulder
(Source : Wardlaw and Leonard, 1936)
Some cultivars of banana become less angular in cross section as development and maturation progress (Figure 2). Size is generally of limited value as a maturity index in fruit, though it is widely used for many vegetables, especially those marketed early in their development. With these produce, size is often specified as a quality standard, with large size generally indicating commercial over-maturity and under-sized produce indicating an immature state. The assumption, however, is not always a reliable guide for all-purpose.