Respiration and Ethylene Production During Ontogeny of Fruit1

Respiration (ml CO 2 /kg/hour) decreased as fruits matured in mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. Haden), avocado ( Persea americana Mill. cv. unknown), and lychee ( Litchi chinensis Sonn. cv. Kwai Mi). With ripening, a respiratory rise commenced in the climacteric mango and avocado, but not in the nonclimacteric lychee. Ethylene (μl/mg/hour) production in all species also decreased as the fruit matured, became undetectable, then reappeared upon fruit ripening (mango and avocado) or senescence (lychee). The possible relationship between respiration and ethylene production in the ontogeny of fruit is discussed.