Fruit Ripening in the Oil-palm Elaeis guineensis

Abstract

Some gross morphological, biochemical, and quantitative size changes of the fruit which occur during the 150 or 80 days from fertilization to ripeness for this species are described. Three main phases of development are discernible. For the first 15 days little activity may be noted. This is followed by a differentiation period of 60 to 70 days during which the fruit develops to almost maximum size and the embryo, endosperm, mesocarp, and epicarp are virtually completely differentiated. The last period of ripening is considered a maturation period during which time the embryo becomes viable, the tissues become consolidated into final forms, and oil formation in the endosperm and mesocarp takes place. These processes are described quantitatively with growth curves.