The aim of this study was to characterize the evolution of the main harvest time indicators suggested to mango fruit (Mangifera indica L.), during growth and maturation, at the São Francisco River Valley conditions. At the fruit set stage, forty-eight plants uniformly distributed on four rows were selected from a commercial orchard. From these plants, six hundred fruits were selected at the development stage known as "egg" (40 mm of diameter), which were verified at 52 days after fruit set (DAFS). Periodically, until the complete ripening on the plant, fruit samples were collected, corresponding to their age, at 52, 64, 72, 83, 92, 99, 106, 113, 120, 125, 128, 133, and 139 DAFS. The experimental design was completely randomized, with 13 treatments (age of fruits) and four replications constituted by ten fruits. Changes on the pulp color from 99 DAFS on and on firmness were the indicators which offered the best characterization of the beginning of maturation on mango fruits and they should be accompanied by fruit sampling on the field. Changes on the titratable acidity and on the contents of soluble solids (SS) and total pulp carotenoids were also indicative of the maturity evolution. The pulp of ripe mango fruit showed maximum SS content and ascorbic acid and total carotenoids contents lower than those of fruits at the beginning of maturation.
Mangifera indica; carotenoids; soluble solids; titratable acidity; fruit development
