Patterns of Hormones, Respiration and Ripening Enzymes during Development, Maturation and Ripening of Cherry Tomato Fruits

Abstract

AbstractChanges in growth, endogenous levels of hormones, ethylene evolution and cellulytic and pectolytic enzyme activities of cherry tomato fruits (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Small Fry) were assayed from anthesis through ripening. After anthesis, growth of cherry tomato fruit follows a three‐dimensional and sigmoid growth pattern which consits of cell division, cell enlargement, mature green, pink and red stages. Cytokinins and auxins were abundant and reached their peak during early development (cell division). Gibberellin levels were more prominent during the period of cell enlargement and reached a peak before the green mature stage. Levels of abscisic acid increased gradually during maturation and reached a maximum in the advanced green mature stage. Respiration pattern was characterized by a climacteric peak at the pink stage. Ethylene production remained less than 2 μl/kg fresh weight an hour until shortly before mature green stage, then rose rapidly to a maximum at pink stage. Activities of cellulytic and pectolytic enzymes were first detected at the green mature stage and increased rapidly during fruit ripening.