The objective of the present work was to determine some physical and physiological properties of pear development cv. Triunfo de Viena, produced under the equatorial cold at the Colombian Andes. The fruit growth was evaluated at 30 days intervals starting at its full bloom. The studied properties were fruit weight, size, flesh firmness, soluble solids concentration, pH, titratable acids (% malic acid) and respiratory rate. The soluble solids concentration and pH are not sensible properties to determine the appropriate harvest time, presenting constant values and low dispersion. The fruit presents spherical form and its superficial area is a direct function of the fruit weight. The flesh firmness, titratable acids (TA) and respiratory rate, decrease when the pear grows, presenting harvest values of 67,82 N for flesh firmness, titratable acidity of 0,24% and respiratory rate of 29,60 mg CO2 kg-1 h-1. The soluble solids concentration (SS), and the relation SS/TA increase at the fruit ripening. At harvest time the fruits present SS about 12,0ºBrix, relation SS/TA of 49,36 and pH 3,94.
harvest index; soluble solids; titratable acids; firmness; respiration; Pyrus communis L.
