Kinnow mandarin fruits, when harvested at different periods and stored at ambient temperature showed increased levels of pectin methylesterase, polygalacturonase, and cellulase with delay in harvesting periods, The increase was more conspicuous after the second week of January when the fruits deteriorated faster during storage, than the fruits harvested earlier. The quality deterioration in Kinnow fruits harvested beyond second week of January could perhaps be due to increase in these fruit softening enzymes. The significance of this finding is discussed in relation to fruit ripening and softening.
