CARACTERIZACIÓN FISICOQUÍMICA DE MORA DE CASTILLA (Rubus glaucus Benth) EN SEIS ESTADOS DE MADUREZ.

The local interest of producers, traders and consumers for the Castilla Blackberry produced in Ibagué city and lack information about its qualities is the reason of the current fruit's characterization evaluated in six maturity states. The morphological and physicochemical results indicate that the harvest optimum state was fifth, because its good index-harvest, firmness, weight, total soluble solids (TSS), yield and insoluble matter in alcohol (IMA), in this phase of maturation the high acidity limits bacterial growth, although fungal problems persistented like Botrytis Cinerea. However, the harvest in fourth and sixth state is not recommended, due to lower weight and volume; and structural fragility often produces lixiviation, fermentation and injury of the fruit respectively. In general the statistical analysis revealed significant differences between maturity degrees about weight, diameter greater, volume, acidity, TSS, minerals, and IMA, ratifying the importance of relation between development degree of the fruit and harvest time because its direct impact on product quality and commercial competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]