Light, Temperature, and Sucrose Affect Color, Diameter, and Soluble Solids of Disks of Wax Apple Fruit Skin

Abstract

A study was conducted to assess the combined effects of light, temperature and sucrose on color, weight, diameter, and soluble solids of the skin of wax apple (Syzygium samarangense Merr. & Perry) fruits. Skin disks were cultured in a factorial arrangement of two light levels [dark or light (300 μmol·m-2·s-1)] as subplots and three sucrose concentrations (0%, 3%, or 6%) as sub-subplots within three temperature levels (20, 25, or 30 °C) as whole plot treatments. Weight, diameter, soluble solids concentration (SSC), and anthocyanin content were measured 2 weeks after incubation. Light increased SSC and anthocyanin, but reduced the increase in weight and diameter. Increasing the temperature limited increase in diameter and anthocyanin content. Weight, SSC, and anthocyanin contents increased in a linear fashion with concentration of sucrose in the culture solution. However, none of the three factors played a unique role in anthocyanin synthesis in wax apple. Among the 18 combinations, light/20°C/6% sucrose gave the highest SSC and anthocyanin content, while dark/20°C/6% sucrose produced the largest diameter.