FRUIT GROWTH OF SAPOTE MAMEY [Pouteria sapota (Jacq.) H. E. Moore & Stearn] IN MORELOS, MÉXICO

Abstract

The growth pattern and time to full fruit development in sapote mamey [Pouteria sapota (Jacq.) H. E. Moore & Stearn], were measured through polar and ecuatorial diameters. The period of highest fruit abscission and changes in fruit mass distribution within its structures, were also evaluated. Fruit growing period is from flowering to maturity required from 18 to 20 months, and had a sigmoidal pattern. The highest fruit drop (76 %) was observed 5 months before the next flowering period. On the average, only 20 % of initial fruits was harvested, and harvest was from February to May. The fruit mass and its structures increased after of April in a sigmoidal pattern, and mass distribution among fruit structures near the harvest was: 60 % in pulp, 25 % in peel, and 15 % in seed.