Postharvest physiology and biochemistry of some non-traditional American tropical fruits

In recent years there has been increasing interest in the commercialization of new tropical fruit species both fresh and processed. However, there has been very little evaluation of fruit attributes, or technologies that contribute to extending postharvest market life, and few attempts have been made to apply new scientific advances in physiology and biochemical of post harvest to these non-traditional fruit. During the past ten years, Embrapa Tropical Agroindustry, together with the Federal University of Paraiba and other Institutions of the Brazilian Northeast, have commenced studies on postharvest physiology and biochemical characteristics of traditional as well as non-traditional tropical fruits. To date, results obtained are the main source of technologies for harvest, post harvest, storage and commercialization of these fruits in the Region. Information is presented on some physiological and biochemical modifications that occur during maturation and postharvest phases of the acerola or barbados cherry (Malpighia emarginata), sugar apple (Annona squamosa), custard apple or atemoya (Annona cherimolia x Annona squamosa), bacuri (Platonia insignis), cashew (Anacardium occidentale), yellow mombim (Spondias mombim), red mombim (Spondias purpurea), soursop (Annona muricata), mangaba (Hancornia speciosa), pitanga or Surinam cherry (Eugenia uniflora) and sapodilla (Manilkara achras), that should could be the basis for developing postharvest technologies to improve the quality of fruit destined for fruit markets.