FACTOID # 114: People in Germany, Belgium, Hungary and Sweden have to pay almost half their salaries in tax.
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RELATED ARTICLES
People who viewed "Ripen" also viewed:
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

SEARCH ALL

FACTS & STATISTICS    Advanced view

Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 

 

(* = Graphable)

 

 


Encyclopedia > Ripen

Ripening is a process in fruit that causes them to become more edible. In general, fruits get sweeter, less acidic, less green and softer as they ripen.


Stages of a plant's life, like a human's, are influenced by hormones. These are often connected to pollination. If too few seeds in a multiseeded fruit are formed (by fertilization of the ovules), the flesh of the fruit may not develop in some areas, and ripening will be retarded or prevented. Fruit growers increasingly monitor seed ratios in forming and/or mature fruit and adjust pollination management accordingly.


Shortage of pollinators can be an unrecognized factor in poor ripening of fruit. In a test in the Rio Grande valley of Texas, increasing the number of beehives in cantaloupes by a factor of about 2 1/2, increased the total crop by almost 7 tons per acre (1.6 kg/mē), mostly due to increased sugar content in the fruit.


An important plant hormone involved with ripening is the chemical ethylene. Ethylene is a gas created by plants from the amino acid methionine, and can easily be created synthetically. Ethylene causes increased levels of certain enzymes in the fruit. These enzymes include:

  • amylase, which breaks down starch to produce simple sugars.
  • pectinase breaks down pectin, the substance that keeps fruit hard.

Many fruits are picked prior to full ripening, because ripened fruits do not ship well. For example bananas are picked green, and then gassed with ethylene after shipment, so they can be artificially ripened. It is also possible to speed ripening at home. For example, kiwifruit are often slow to finish ripening, and ripening can be hastened by placing the fruit in a bag with an apple, which gives off natural ethylene gas.


Ethylene gas can also cause damage. If apples are stored with potatoes that have not been treated to prevent sprouting, the gas given off by the apples will cause the potatoes to sprout wildly.


Other enzymes break down the green pigment chlorophyll, which is replaced by other coloured pigments such as blue, yellow or red.


  Results from FactBites:
 
Ripening is our business, providing superior ethylene ripening generators, ethylene ripening concentrate, ripening ... (176 words)
Ripening is our business, providing superior ethylene ripening generators, ethylene ripening concentrate, ripening thermometers, ripening hygrometers, ripening thermohygrometers,ripening hygrothermometers, ripening knives, ripening smoke candles, ripening gas sampling systems and other ripening products for use in ripening avocados, tomatoes, bananas.
Charlotte, NC American Ripener was founded on the conviction that advanced engineering using state-of-the-art technology and components produces superior ripening through improved ethylene generators and concentrate.
The principals of American Ripener bring over 40 years of successful experience in both engineering and service to the agribusiness community.
Ripening is our business, providing superior ethylene ripening generators, ethylene ripening concentrate, ripening ... (169 words)
Ripening is our business, providing superior ethylene ripening generators, ethylene ripening concentrate, ripening thermometers, ripening hygrometers, ripening thermohygrometers,ripening hygrothermometers, ripening knives, ripening smoke candles, ripening gas sampling systems and other ripening products for use in ripening avocados, tomatoes, bananas.
Ripener I Concentrate should be used in ARCO Ethylene Generators to produce ethylene for proper ripening.
During the entire ripening process, avocados must be vented every 12 hours to avoid CO buildup, which will cause the avocados to not ripen properly.
  More results at FactBites »


 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your comments
Please enter the 5-letter protection code

Want to know more?
Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:

 


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms.