The champa is a species belonging to the Myrtaceae family which fruit is very desired by consumers due to its exquisite flavor and aroma. The objective of this research was to study some biochemical changes during growth and until harvest of champa fruits in the municipality of Miraflores, Boyacá-Colombia. Flowers of 30 selected trees were marked randomly. Five samplings were performed from day 26 after flowering until harvest. Temperature was recorded to calculate degree days (DD). In the period from flowering to fruit harvest (145 days) accumulated 1489.1 DD. Prior to harvest sugars increased and acids decreased but their concentration was high. Sucrose (highest concentration), fructose, glucose, and citric (predominant at harvest), succinic, malic and oxalic acids were detected. Polygalacturonase activity started from 582.06 DD and increased until harvest. The respiratory rate was high at the beginning and decreased to 1422.8 DD, a point that coincides with the physiological maturity, at this moment ethylene production was also detected. The fruits presented high acidity and a representative sugar content which determine its characteristic flavor.
sugars; organics acids; poligalacturonase activity; respiratory rate; ethylene
