Feijoa fruit: Growth and chemical composition during development

Abstract

Abstract The growth and chemical composition of feijoa fruit (Feijoa sellowiana Berg or Acca sellowiana) harvested at different stages of maturity were examined. Fruit growth showed a double sigmoid pattern characterised by a rapid final growth phase which lasted until abscission and fruit fall from the tree. The respiration rate of young fruit was high (120 mg CO2 kg-1h-1) but declined to a preclimacteric minimum (20–30 mg CO2 kg-1 h-1) 80–100 days after anthesis, and then increased as the fruit matured and ripened. Sugar and organic acid content of fruit harvested less than 80 days after anthesis was low but increased after 90 days, until fruit fall. Calcium, magnesium, and potassium content of feijoa fruit increased throughout maturation.