: A natural plant hormone that triggers ripening. Managing ethylene is critical for controlling the ripening speed of climacteric fruits like bananas and mangoes. Biochemical Changes During Ripening

: The process where oxygen is consumed to break down starches and sugars into energy, releasing heat and CO2cap C cap O sub 2

For a comprehensive guide on the , the authoritative textbook by Elhadi M. Yahia and Armando Carrillo-Lopez is the primary resource. Core Concepts of Postharvest Physiology

: Enzymes such as pectinase and cellulase degrade cell walls, causing fruit to soften.

: The loss of moisture through pores like stomata and lenticels . Excessive water loss leads to shriveling and weight loss.

: Degradation of chlorophyll often reveals or synthesizes other pigments like carotenoids. Recommended Reference Guides

Postharvest physiology focuses on how harvested plants respond to technologies used to extend shelf life and delay (plant death). Fruits and vegetables remain living tissues even after harvest, continuing biological processes like respiration and transpiration .