The objective of this study was to determine how ripening physiology and quality of 'Golden' papaya are affected by maturity stages at harvest. Papayas were harvested at four maturity stages (Stage 0: totally green; Stage 1: up to 15% of yellow skin; Stage 2: 16-25% of yellow skin; Stage 3: 26-50% of yellow skin) and evaluated during ripening at 23ºC. Physical and physico-chemical (skin color, pulp firmness, soluble solids, titratable acidity, and ascorbic acid), physiological (respiratory activity and ethylene production), and sensorial (flavor, odor, firmness, and appearance) characteristics were evaluated. Regardless of maturity stages, fruit showed similar variation in respiration rate, exhibiting constant values after the 2nd day of storage at 23ºC (~31 mL CO2 kg-1 h-1 for stages 0, 1, and 2, and ~37 mL CO2 kg-1 h-1 for stage 3). Typical climacteric behavior was not observed for any maturity stage. Only fruit harvested at stage 0 and 1 showed a well defined ethylene production peak of 2.1 µL C2H4 kg-1 h-1 after 7 d of storage and 1.3 µL C2H4 kg-1 h-1 after 6 d, respectively. Fruit harvested at stages 0, 1, 2 and 3 reached the edible condition (pulp firmness < 20 N) after 7, 6, 4, and 3 d at 23ºC, respectively. The ascorbic acid concentration increased 20-30% during ripening, while skin hue angle and titratable acidity was reduced. Independent of the maturity stages at which papayas were harvested, soluble solids did not alter during ripening. Fruit harvested at stages 2 and 3 had superior scores for sensorial evaluation, mainly for flavor and appearance. Harvest at different maturity stages altered fruit postharvest physiology and when effectuated at early stages, it reduced fruit quality but did not make its consumption unacceptable.

Tomato is an important crop worldwide. Cadmium (Cd) concentrations in fruits depend on tomato genotype. This work aimed to study the relation among Cd accumulation, tolerance mechanisms and fruit features in two tomato cultivars with contrasting tolerance to Cd stress. Tolerant (Yoshimatsu) and sensitive (Tropic Two Orders) plants were grown in control and contaminated soils (0.04 and 3.77 mg kg⁻¹ Cd, respectively) from the seedling stage to fruit production. Both cultivars were able to acclimatize to Cd exposure, probably through mechanisms associated to reductions in the magnesium status. Cadmium concentrations varied according to the following descending order: roots = leaf blades > (peduncle + sepals) > stem = fruits. However, the tolerant cultivar accumulated more Cd than did the sensitive one. Although Cd reached the fruits from the first to the fourth bunches, peduncle and sepals may act as a barrier to Cd entrance in tomato pulp and peel. The Cd‐induced changes in the fruit mineral profile varied according to plant cultivar, organ, tomato tissue and bunch position. Moreover, plant yield was not affected by the Cd stress, which was able to improve fruit size and weight in the tolerant cultivar. In conclusion, new insights about the Cd‐induced effects on tomato development and fruit attributes were provided by growing plants in soil, which is the media generally used to cultivate this crop, rather than hydroponics. It was shown that tomato cultivars with contrasting tolerance to Cd toxicity can reach sexual maturity and produce fruits with no yield losses, despite impacts on development from long‐term Cd exposure. The current study also revealed the role of floral receptacle and its related structures in limiting, even partially, Cd translocation to the fruits. Furthermore, Yoshimatsu's capacity to produce bigger and heavier fruits, in plants under Cd exposure, is probably associated to enhanced Cd accumulation