Abstract
Vitamin C distributions at various stages of growth in various parts of such fruit crops as tomato (Solanaceae), pimento (do.) and strawberry (Rosaceae) was studied. The obtained results are as follows:
1) Unripe tomatoes and pimentos showed notably low average vitamin C contents of a fruit body per vegetable and it increased progressively with the growth. But, once ripe maturity had been reached, the average vitamin C content of tomato began diminishing whereas that of pimento continued to increase.
2) Within each fruit, the tissue vitamin C level was noted to be highest in the apical region and diminished progressively in areas proximal to it in the case of pimento and strawberry. In tomatoes, on the other hand, the proximal region exhibited a particularly high vitamin C content, followed by the apical region.
3) As for histological distribution of vitamin C, the placenta and seed showed significantly greater contents as compared with that in the sarcocarp, in tomatoes. In pimentos, the pulp displayed a markedly high content in comparison with those in the placenta and seed. The pericarp of strawberry was observed to be conspicuously rich in vitamin C content, the pulp being also rich next to it whilst the core proving the least in the content of this vitamin.
