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Published on: March 30, 2012
Effects of fruit maturity on watermelon ultrastructure and intracellular lycopene distribution
D V Bangalore1, W G McGlynn, D D Scott
1General Mills Inc., Meals Div., P.O. Box 9452, Minneapolis, MN 55440, USA.
Abstract:
This study employed transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to conduct research on the ultrastructure of watermelon (cultivar: Hazera SW1) mesocarp samples of different maturities. Micrographs from immature fruit showed incompletely formed chromoplasts. A combination of distinct pigment-bearing chromoplasts and incompletely formed chromoplasts was observed in mature watermelon micrographs. Electron micrographs showed chromoplasts changing from a less organized globular form in immature to a symmetrical form in mature to an asymmetrical form in overmature watermelons. This study furthers our understanding of watermelon physiology and the effect of maturity on compartmentalization of lycopene.
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