Specific Gravity and Surface Area Changes As Growth Parameters and the Role of Light and Ga₃ During Fruit Development in Solanum Melongena L.

Specific gravity, surface area and surface area/volume ratio have been used as growth parameters during the fruit development of egg plant. The growth pattern on removal of persistant calyx from fruits at different growth and developmental stages have been compared. The developing fruits at very young stage require calyx for protection and rapid translocation of metabolites; the requirement of calyx diminishes at a later stage. The fruit growth appears to depend upon the interaction of gibberel-lins and antigibberellins (e.g., flavonoids). Increased rate of growth in fruits minus calyx when treated with GA₃ and covered with aluminium foil may be due to destruction of antigibberellins.