Physicochemical characterization of cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) fruits ecotype Colombia during preharvest development and growth

Abstract

Cape gooseberry fruits are increasingly recognized due to their excellent organoleptic and functional characteristics as a food. As the cultivation of this fruit expands, it is necessary to determine the quality characteristics and evolution of the new growing zones. This study sought to characterize the growth and development of cape gooseberry fruits, Ecotype Colombia, in the Ventaquemada region (Department of Boyacá in Colombia). For the experiments, 50 plants were taken completely at random from which 20 flowers of the middle third were selected and marked considering that 50% of the flowers were open. The selected cape gooseberry plants were 9 months old from the establishment. Samples were carried out every 5-7 days to evaluate changes in different physiological and physicochemical properties of the fruits such as equatorial diameter, weight, dry matter, respiration intensity (RI), total soluble solids (SST), titratable acidity (TA), and maturity ratio (SST/TA). Logistic and modified enzyme kinetics models were fitted to represent the change in these characteristics as a function of growth time and to establish a suitable maturity index. A rapid increase in the growth and a substantive change in the properties of the fruits were observed between 36 and 45 days after anthesis (DAA) and stabilization between 60 and 65 DAA, which constitutes the stage of physiological maturity. At this stage, fruits with a polar/equatorial diameter of 2.2-2.5 cm, 14.9% TSS, 2.2% TA, and 191.7 cm³ CO₂ /g/d RI were obtained. Likewise, from the adjusted models, it was possible to identify these changes, especially for the relative growth rate (RGR), color index, and maturity ratio. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: In this work, we present the characterization of some physicochemical properties of cape gooseberry throughout its development and preharvest growth. This fruit is of wide interest due to its broad nutritional properties and is known as a "superfruit." The monitoring of the changes in the quality characteristics is important because it allows producers to define an optimum maturity stage for its commercialization. We also fit suitable regression models to relate the evolution in the product as a function of time and provide prediction tools to monitor fruit development. The above can help growers better schedule their production cycles.

Keywords: golden berry; mathematical modeling; maturity index; physical properties; physiology.