Development of Garcinia Atroviridis (Asam Gelugur) during Fruit Growth

Asam gelugur (Garcinia atroviridis Griff ex. T. Anderson) in Malaysia normally used as dried fruit for ingredients in the food. Dried G. atroviridis also used for medicinal and health benefits food. Recently, G. atroviridis become more popular when RandD found that this fruit has high hydroxy acetic acid (HCA) (to reduce cholesterol and fat, slimming agent), high antioxidant content, anti-bacteria, anti-tumour, manage high blood pressure etc. This fruit was processed as health benefit foods and also as supplement and healthy drink. This traditional plant also proven can be planted on a commercial scale and give promising income to entrepreneurs. Therefore, a study on this plant also given priority. Study on different maturity stages is important to understand the development of fruit and to determine suitable harvesting stage as a guideline for harvesting and processing. Therefore, this study were carried out by tagging the fruit from flowering until the fruit set, matured and ripen stage. From the observation, fruit at age 85 days after flowering seem started matured and they were picked at every 5 days and analysed until day 125 when fruit were overripe and drop from tree. Fruit were analysed on physical (visual appearance, firmness, lightness, chroma, hue) and chemical (pH, total titratable acidity (TTA), ascorbic acid, soluble solid content (SSC) changes. Result showed that SSC of G. atroviridis were range from 6.13 – 7.73. SSC of G. atroviridis maintain during development and significantly increased after 120 days. Acidity (TTA) of G. atroviridis were very high (3.83 – 4.60 mg/100g). TTA significantly low at day 90 and 120 after fruit set, compare to other stages. Ascorbic acid content of G. atroviridis is considered low (0.77 – 1.35 mg/100g). pH of G. atroviridis is very low at 2.41 -2.60. This considered too low compared to other fruits. pH and ascorbic acid of G. atroviridis is fluctuated during the development of fruit from 85 to 125 day after flowering. Skin lightness increased significantly from day 85 to 100, maintain until day 110 and significantly decreased until day 125. Flesh lightness maintain during fruit development. Skin chroma maintain from day 85 to day 105, significantly increased after day 105 to 110, maintain until day 115 and significantly decreased thereafter. Flesh chroma remain un-change during fruit development from day 85 to day 120, but slightly increased from day 120 to until day 125. Skin hue maintain from day 85 to day 95, significantly decreased after day 100 to 110, significantly increased until day 115 and maintain thereafter. Flesh hue remain un-change during fruit development from day 85 to day 125. Firmness of G. atroviridis maintain during development, 19.35 – 23.25 N, but significantly higher at 125 days after flowering, 25.32 N.