The firmness of fruit at green stages (SG and LG) was similar
in both strawberry species (Table 1). Nevertheless, fruit soften
markedly between the transition from LG to R stages in both species.
In F. × ananassa, firmness loss was close to 55% from the SG to T
stages, and 88% from the SG to R stages. On the other hand, F. chiloensis
firmness reduction was about 74% from the SG to T stages and
88% from the SG to R stages. Therefore, the Chilean strawberry fruit
showed a higher softening rate than that exhibited by F. × ananassa
fruit, although fruit from both species displayed similar firmness
values at the ripe stage.