Republic of the Philippines

UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM

Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
MATURITY INDICES AND HARVESTING PRACTICES
FOR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES (MELON AND LABANOS)

Submitted to
PROF. ELVIRA S. ABINES
Subject Professor, Required Major 4

Submitted by
Joshua M. Florano
BSA IV-2 AS MAJOR
 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM
Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
I. Introduction

The stage at which the crops should be harvested has an important bearing on

quality. Good quality is obtained when harvesting is done at the proper stage of

maturity. Fruits harvested before optimum maturity may not ripen adequately and may

not develop good flavor, while crops harvested late (over mature) will have a shorter

post-harvest life and deteriorate easily.

Maturity indices according to its common term are the sign or indication in the

readiness of the commodity for harvest. It helps in deciding that when a given

commodity should be harvested to provide some marketing and to ensure the

attainment of acceptable eating quality to the consumer. 

It is important for growers to consider maturity indices to ensure that they will be

harvesting the product at the right time. The definition of maturity as the stage of

development giving minimum acceptable quality to the ultimate consumer implies a

measurable point in the commodity's development, and it also implies the need for

techniques to measure maturity. The maturity index for a commodity is a measurement

or measurements that can be used to determine whether a particular example of the

commodity is mature. These indices are important to the trade in fresh fruits and

vegetables for so many reasons.

This paper aims to identify the maturity indices and harvesting practices that were

done for fruits and vegetables specifically labanos and melon as the featured

commodities for this paper. It also aims to present information which can be used by
 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM
Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
growers and farmers as an additional guide if they want to venture into crop production

and enterprise.

II. Anatomical, Physico-Chemical and Physiological Properties of Immature and

Mature Fruit or Vegetable

Anatomical Structure of a Fruit

The fruit primarily contains two parts: the pericarp and the seed. The pericarp layer
is actually the outer wall of the ovary from which the fruit developed. The pericarp has three
layers:

 Exocarp or Epicarp: This is the outermost layer of the pericarp that forms

the skin.

 Mesocarp: It is the thick, fleshy and juicy middle layer of the pericarp.

 Endocarp: It is the innermost layer of the fruit which often develops into the
pith.

Physicochemical Properties of Melon

According to the study of N.M.A Yanty et. al in 2021, Cucumis melo var. inodorus

seeds were found to contain 4.5% moisture, 25.0% crude fat, 25.0% crude protein,

23.3% crude fiber, 2.4% ash and 19.8% carbohydrate. The iodine and saponification

values, and unsaponifiable matter and free fatty acid contents of freshly extracted
 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM
Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
honeydew melon seed oil were 153.4 g I2/100 g oil, 210.2 mg KOH/g oil, 0.9 and 2.5%,

respectively.

The oil had a color index of 1.6Y + 0.4R, and had 10 fatty acids, of which 86.1%

were unsaturated. Linoleic acid predominated with 69.0% followed by oleic acid (16.8%)

and palmitic acid (8.4%). LLL (24.9%), OLL (21.5%), PLL (15.9%) and POL (12.4%)

(where L, O, P and S denote linoleic, oleic, palmitic and stearic acids, respectively) were

the major triacylglycerols present. The melting and crystallization temperatures were

−5.12 and −59.01C, respectively. Electronic nose analysis showed the presence of

more volatile compounds compared to refined sunflower oil, an oil rich also in linoleic

acid.

In Malaysia, honeydew melon (Cucumis melo var. inodorus) seeds are normally

treated as waste products. In this study, honeydew melon seed oil was found to have a

potential to become a new edible oil source as it contained a level high in

polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Anatomical Structure of Labanos/Radish

 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM
Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
Physico-Chemical Structure of Labanos/Radish

Labanos is a coarse, annual crop plant. Roots are fleshy, pungent and variable in

size and form. Leaves are roughly hairy, the lower ones lyrate. Flowers are variable,

about 1.5 centimeters long, usually white or lilac, with purple veins, sepals erect, lateral

ones saccate at the base. Pod is indehiscent, lanceolate, cylindrical, and 2 to 2.6

centimeters in length, and terminates in a long beak. Seeds are separated by pith.

Its properties include:

 Considered anthelmintic, antifungal, antibacterial, antiscorbutic, diuretic,

laxative, tonic, carminative, corrective, stomachic, cholagogue, lithotriptic,

emmenagogue.

 The juice of the fresh root is considered powerfully antiscorbutic.

 Roots considered carminative and corrective.

 Flowers considered becnic and cholagogue.

 Seeds considered diuretic, laxative, stimulant, and lithotriptic.

 In Iranian traditional medicine, seeds are considered diuretic carminative,

anti-fever, antitussive and gastric tonic.

Phytochemical screening shows presence of alkaloids, reducing sugar,

flavonoids, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, tannins, saponin, protein, amino acid,

terpenoids, steroids, coumarins, and etc.

It also exhibits methanolic extract of roots yielded carbohydrates, proteins, amino

acids, steroids, glycosides, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins and polyphenols. Aqueous

extract of roots yielded alkaloids, glycosides, triterpenoids and steroids, with absence of
 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM
Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
carbohydrates, reducing sugars, flavonoids, tannin, phenolic compounds, saponin,

proteins and amino acids. 

In Malaysia, honeydew melon (Cucumis melo var. inodorus) seeds are

normally treated as waste products. In this study, honeydew melon seed oil was
found to have a potential to become a new edible oil source as it contained a
level high in polyunsaturated fatty acids

II. Maturity indices

Maturity is the stage of fully development of tissue of fruit and vegetables only after

which it will ripen normally. During the process of maturation, the fruit receives a regular

supply of food material from the plant. When mature, the abscission or corky layer

which forms at the stern end stops this inflow.

Afterwards, the fruit depend on its own reserves, carbohydrates are dehydrated and

sugars accumulate until the sugar acid ratio form. In addition to this, typical flavor and

characteristic color also develop. Science and studies has recommended harvesting

any commodity at proper harvest stage according to its maturity indices which helps the

commodity for proper ripening, shipping and storage life.

a. Subjective

Melon

1. Cultivars vary in their external color at this stage of maturity and may retain a

greenish cast. This skin color typically transitions from gray to dull green when

immature, deep uniform green at maturity, and light yellow at full ripeness. A

raised and well-rounded netting on the fruit surface is another indicator of proper

commercial maturity.
 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM
Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
2. Other indicators of maturity are based on touch, appearance, and aroma. The

flower end (the end opposite the stem) of the melon should be slightly soft. The

skin between the netting turns from green to yellow at maturity. Finally, a ripe

melon produces a strong "muskmelon" aroma.

Labanos

1. At this stage roots are mild, tender and crisp and usually of the proper

marketable size.

2. Roots must be harvested before they become pithy, bitter and fibrous.

b. Objective

Melon

Cantaloupe matures in about 80 to 90 days. Melons are normally ready to

harvest when they start turning yellow on the bottom and the stem starts turning brown.

Labanos

Maturity Sings of Radish:

1. European type is ready for harvesting within 30 days from sowing and Asiatic

type within 45 to 60 days from sowing.

2. Crop is harvested within 30-50 days of sowing, pulled out of soil when it

reaches edible size.

IV. Harvesting Practice

The goals of harvesting are to gather a commodity from the field at the proper

level of maturity with a minimum of damage and loss, as rapidly as possible and at a
 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM
Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
minimum cost. This is achieved through hand-harvesting in most fruit, vegetable and

flower crops.

1. Hand Harvesting which has a number of advantages over machine harvest.

People can accurately determine product quality, allowing accurate selection of mature

product.

The rate of harvest can easily be increased by hiring more workers. Hand-

harvesting also requires a minimum of capital investment. The main problem with hand

harvesting is labor management.

Labor supply is a problem for growers who cannot offer a long employment

season. Labor strikes during the harvest period can be costly. In spite of these

problems, quality is so important to marketing fresh- market commodities successfully

that hand harvesting remains the dominant method of harvest of most fruits and

vegetables and for all cut flowers.

Effective use of hand labor requires careful management. New employees must

be trained to harvest the product at the required quality and at an acceptable rate of

productivity. Employees must know what level of performance and must be encouraged

and trained to reach that level.

2. Mechanical Harvesting Mechanical harvest is currently used for fresh-market

crops that are roots, tubers, or rhizomes and for nut crops. Vegetables that are grown

below ground (radishes, potatoes, garlic, carrots, beets and others) are always

harvested only once and the soil can be used to cushion the product from machine

caused mechanical injury.

 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM
Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
V. Problems associated with harvesting of fruits and vegetables

Machines are rarely capable of selective harvest. Mechanical harvesting will not

be feasible until the crop or production techniques can be modified to allow one time

harvest. Harvesting machines often causes excessive product perennial crops. Bark

damage from a tree shaker. The harvesting machines are quite expensive.

V. Conclusion

Informations with regards to identifying whether the product is mature and

immature is important so that there are no possible damage that the external

environment could cause the Such fruits persist numerous problems during handling,

storage and transportation. Therefore, it is necessary or essential to pick up the fruits or

vegetables at correct stage of maturity to facilitate proper ripening, distant transportation

and maximum storage life.

VI. References

Pharmacological basis for the gut stimulatory activity of Raphanus sativus

leaves / Anwarul Hassan Gilani and M Nabeel Ghayur / Journal of Ethnopharmacology,
Volume 95, Issues 2-3, December 2004, Pages 169-172 / doi:10.1016/j.jep.2004.06.038
Cantwell, M. and T. Suslow. 2002. Lettuce, Crisphead: Recommendations for
Maintaining Postharvest Quality. 
http://ucanr.edu/sites/Postharvest_Technology_Center_/Commodity_Resources/
Fact_Sheets/Datastores/Vegetables_English/?uid=19&ds=799 (Accessed January 18,
2014).
https://www.agrifarming.in/maturity-of-fruits-and-vegetables-a-beginners-guide
FEEDING STANDARDS AND NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS OF DIFFERENT
CATEGORIES OF LIVESTOCK AND COMPUTATION OF RATIONS -PART-1
https://www.pashudhanpraharee.com/feeding-standards-and-nutrient-
requirements-of-different-categories-of-livestock-and-computation-of-rations-
part-1/
 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF RIZAL SYSTEM
Province of Rizal
Tanay Main Campus
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE