the fructose became predominant as the ripening progressed. No trend was observed in the sugar levels in the outer pericarp. Citric acidwas largely predominant in all tissues, concentrations remaining constant in the placenta and outer pericarp and decreasing in the locular tissue throughout the ripening process (Fig. 8B). No trend in malic acid was observed for the placenta, whereas it decreased slightly for the outer pericarp and locular tissue.