Results and discussion
With regard to changes of different pectic fractions during development and ripening of
cape-gooseberry fruits (Fig. 1), it was noted that the soluble fractions representing WSP
(pectin and colloidal pectinic acid of high methoxyl content) and OXP (pectic acid and
colloidal pectinic acid of low methoxyl level) had followed an increasing trend, in contrast
to a declining quantitative pattern in the cell-wall bound fractions, i.e., HP and OHP
(protopectin of high molecular weight, high methoxyl level of water insoluble materials).
Fig. 2 shows the changes of PME and PG activity in developing fruits in which the activity
of PME was detectable at all stages and it tended to decrease from stage III of fruit
development (30 days after anthesis), the other enzyme, i.e., PG could not be detected ti