Ethylene measurements. Fruits at B, B 1 1, B 1 3, B 1 7 and B 1 14 stages were
harvested and placed in open 100 mL jars for 2 h to minimize the effect of wound
ethylene caused by picking. Jars were then sealed and incubated at room temperature
for 2 h, and 0.5 mL of headspace gas was injected into a Focus GS gas
chromatograph (Thermo-Electron) equipped with a flame ionization detector.
Samples were compared with reagent grade ethylene standards of known
concentration and normalized for fruit weight.