ISHS Acta Horticulturae 269: Symposium on Tropical Fruit in International Trade
CELL WALL CHANGES IN BANANAS AND PLANTAINS |
| Authors: | N.J. Smith, G.B. Seymour, M.J. Jeger, G.A. Tucker |
| Abstract:
Cell wall degradation is thought to be involved in the textural changes occurring during fruit ripening. In many fruit pectin solubilization is a major cell wall change and polygalacturonase and pectinesterase considered as key enzymes in the process. In banana fruit changes in starch may also contribute to the softening of the tissue. An attempt to elucidate the role, if any, of these changes during banana and plantain softening was made by examining four cultivars with differing ripening characteristics. No polygalacturonase activity could be detected and no strong correlations were found between softening and any of the other variables measured. | |
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