MadSci Network: General Biology
Query:

Re: Why does fruit decompose?

Date: Wed Mar 10 07:50:00 1999
Posted By: Jill Irvin, Staff, Food and Nutrition, Ohio State University
Area of science: General Biology
ID: 919180202.Gb
Message:

Even though fruit has been picked, that doesn't mean that ripening and cell changes won't occur. Chemicals that are present in the fruit, called enzymes, will continue to work.

Things that might occur are:

* the increase in sugar content, making fruit sweeter

* a softening of cell walls, making the fruit softer, and

* changes in color.

However, there is no off button to these chemicals. They will continue to work until they don't have anything to work with anymore, so that fruit will go from being not ripe... to ripe... to overripe. This is why most fruit should be eaten within a few days of being picked. How long a fruit can be good to eat after it is picked depends on the fruit. Apples and oranges last much longer than bananas and peaches.

Thanks for an interesting question.

Jill Irvin


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