Physiology of Growth and Development in Loquat Fruit

• Published in: Acta horticulturae no. 887; pp. 179 - 183
• Main Authors: Agusti, M, Reig, C, Mesejo, C, Martinez-Fuentes, A, Gariglio, N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: International Society for Horticultural Science 01-01-2011
• Subjects: color; fructose; fruit set; glucose; growth and development; hormonal regulation; loquats; seeds; sorbitol; sucrose; water uptake
• ISSN: 0567-7572; 2406-6168
• DOI: 10.17660/actahortic.2011.887.29

In the northern hermisphere, loquat fruit sets at the beginning of December and grows for four months. Loquat fruit has a sigmoidal pattern of growth. From fruit set to February, fruit grows slowly and seeds are the main relative fruit component, contributing in a high proportion to the total dry weight. From early March to maturity, fruit growth accelerates, showing two peaks of growth-rate, early in March and from the late March to harvest, reaching 80% of its final weight in 45 d. Two weeks before colour break, flesh exceeds seed in weight and becomes the main contributor to fruit weight, both fresh and dry weight. At harvest, the flesh tissue represents, approximately, 80 and 45% of total fresh and dry fruit weight, respectively. Flesh cell expansion is depending on turgor pressure due to water uptake, which takes place very fast during the last three weeks of fruit development. This increase in water uptake is also due to the accumulation of carbohydrates, particularly sucrose and, in a lower proportion, fructose, glucose and sorbitol, and mineral elements, = mainly K and N. There is still no convincing demonstration that loquat is a climacteric fruit. Hormonal control plays an important role in fruit development.