CHANGES IN CELL WALL CONSTITUENTS OF THE CASHEW APPLE OF EARLY DWARF CLONE CCP-76 DURING DEVELOPMENT AND MATURATION

The cashew apples (CCP-76) evaluated in this experiment were obtained from the early dwarf cashew crop experimental area located in Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The apples were harvested at seven stages of development and maturation, according to the aspect of both apple and nut for stages 1 and 2 and of the apple for stages 3 to 7: 1-green apple with green nut; 2-green apple with mature and dry nut; 3-light green, 4-beginning of yellow color; 5-yellow with orange shade; 6-light orange; 7-deep orange. The apples were evaluated for firmness, and the isolated cell wall material CWM was analyzed for cellulose, hemicellulose, total uronides, degree of pectin esterification and bound calcium. The amount of CWM decreased during development and maturation, and was positively correlated to apple firmness as well as to the content of bound calcium. No significant change was observed in the degree of pectin esterification nor in the contents of cellulose and hemicellulose.