CHANGES IN CELL WALL COMPOSITION DURING DEVELOPMENT OF PERSIMMON FRUIT

Cell walls were isolated from persimmon (Diospyrus kaki L.) fruit pericarp, at four developmental stages. Isolated walls were analyzed for changes in the composition and solubility of constituent polysaccharides during development. Pectic polysaccharides decreased from approximately 20% of total wall polysaccharides during development stages. Decreases in uronic acid, arabinose and galactose were accompanied during development. The loss of polyuronides was also accompanied by a depolymerisation of the polysaccharides. Overall, the results indicate that major changes in cell wall polysaccharide composition occurred during softening of ripening.