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Declining trend in oxygen uptake in the aril (the edible part) of fruits of Litchi chinensis Sonn. has been observed during maturation. However, it is preceded by an increase (climacteric onset) at ripening initiation. A six-fold increase (climateric maximum) takes place when partially ripe but considerably declines in ripe and over-ripe fruits.
Fructose undergoes progressive increase in concentration throughout maturation and ripening, with a large increase in over-ripe stage. After a maximum value in still immature litchi, pyruvate concentration drops to a minimum at ripening initiation. This further increases considerably and remains more or less constant in following stages of ripeness.
