Biochemical Changes in Relation to Growth and Ripening of Indian Cherry (Cordia dichotoma): An Underutilized Fruit

The underutilized fruit of Cordia dichotoma, which is popularly known as Indian cherry, was studied at its sequential stages of growth and ripening. The biochemical analysis of this fruit revealed that it is a climacteric type and is a rich source of sugars, proteins, and phenolic compounds, indicating its potential as a nutritious food. The change in the specific activities of enzymes, such as amylase, invertase, catalase, peroxidase, pectinmethylesterase, cellulase, and polygalacturonase, was correlated with the compositional changes of the fruit during growth and ripening.