The world of fruits is not only good for health but also proves to be beneficial in many ways. Each fruit has its exceptional features, taste, and benefit. There is no doubt that fruits are the love for all. Each stage of the fruit journey has some significance, just like immature fruits and white skin phenomenon. Let’s dive into the world of immature fruits and white skin to understand all aspects in a more detailed way.
What Are The Different Stages Of Fruit Development?
Fruits develop under a well-defined process from flowering to maturation. Before we move on to the benefits and phenomenon of immature fruits and white skin, let us understand the different stages of fruit development.
Stage 1: Flowering
The first stage of fruit development is the flowering. A plant blossoms open, and the pollination starts. Pollination is the process when two gametes meet, and pollen grains are transferred from the male anther part to the female stigma. This results in the formation of new fruit structures.
Stage 2: Immature Stage
After pollination, the fruit enters the immature stage, giving rise to a new one. During the immature phase, newborn fruit is pure green and small. The seeds inside the fruit are underdeveloped and require certain temperatures and environments to grow to their full size.
Stage 3: Ripening
With the fruit growth, the seeds also develop and enter the ripening stage. In the ripening phase, the colour, texture, and flavour of the fruit change. The fruit becomes healthy and more palatable. This makes them attractive to the animals for seed dispersal.
Stage 4: Mature stage
In the mature phase of development, fruits develop into their full size and get enriched with flavour and texture. They become ready to consume as the seeds inside them are developed fully.
Stage 5: Overripening
When the fruit gets to this stage, it begins to age, and eventually, in some time, it decays. The overripening makes the fruit smell and taste different. They become less attractive and easily rot or spoil.
Magical Phenomenon of Immature Fruit:
The phenomenon of immature fruits and white skin is due to the underdeveloped nature of the fruit. When the fruit is in its developing stage or immature age of development, its colour is white.
If these immature fruits are intentionally picked from trees or plants, they remain white, as the developing stage was not achieved. The early picking of fruit for the purpose of sale or preservation makes them enriched with potential features.
People often pluck those fruits for culinary purposes, commercial viability, or preservation. The immature fruits often show unique characteristics like white skin.
So, this is not really a magical phenomenon but nature’s magic of fruit development. The fruits harvested before their maturation stage are called immature fruits, and the colour of the fruits’ skin at that stage remains white.
What Are The Reasons Behind The White Skin Of Immature Fruits?
The relation between immature fruits and white skin is not only because of plucking at the immature stage. There are several other factors that involve the whitening of the fruit skin, such as:
- Absence of pigmentation – For colours, pigmentation is very necessary. The white appearance of immature fruits is due to the lack of pigmentation in the fruit. Pigments such as carotenoids (orange, yellow, and red) and chlorophyll (green) give fruits their own colour and enhance textures when they mature. In the early stage before maturation, these pigments are not synthesized. This results in white or pale colouration in the immature fruits.
- High water content: The immature fruits have higher water content than any mature fruit. Due to excess water concentration, they dilute all the pigmentation available in the fruit. This contributes to the pale or white colouration of fruit.
- A thin layer of skin: The immature fruits have a thin layer of skin as compared to any mature fruits. Due to thin skin, it penetrates light more easily and quickly. It gives the fruit a translucent or pale look.
Which Are The Examples Of Immature Fruits And White Skin?
There are many fruits that have certain properties when they are immature and pale. Let’s look at some of the examples of immature fruits and white skin.
- Nectarines and white peaches – These fruits are usually harvested before their maturation. They did not reach the ripeness stage of development. This results in the plucking of immature fruits which have pale and white skin. Consumers prefer them due to their sweet and tart taste.
- Green Tomatoes – Green tomatoes are the perfect example of immature fruit. These fruits are unripe and usually seen in green or pale colour skin. These green tomatoes are mostly used by consumers in fried gravy recipes.
- Green Papaya – Immature papayas are used majorly in Southeast Asian dishes. These fruits have white to pale green skin colour with crunchy textures. You can consume these in salads or in savoury recipes.
- Baby eggplant – Immature eggplants are the perfect example of immature fruits and white skin. These are tender and less bitter than their mature ones. They are purely purple in skin when they are mature. But when immature, they have white and pale skin.
Uses Of Immature Fruits In Cooking:
Some uses of immature fruits for culinary are:
- Salads: As stated above, many immature fruits are used in salads. Such immature fruits are green papaya, green tomato, or white peaches. They add refreshing as well as crunchyness.
- Pickling: Many use immature fruits as pickles, like cucumber or gherkins.
- Stir-frying: Baby eggplant and green tomatoes are used in gravy or savoury recipes.
- Chutneys and salsas: Immature fruits are often used to make chutneys and salsas. These are for commercial and personal purposes.
Conclusion:
The journey of fruits from bloom to harvest is truly exceptional and a rich tapestry of textures and flavours. The immature fruits hold some additional benefits and distinct traits that enhance the colour and texture of the skin. These fruits are mostly known for their white skin feature that holds great importance for nature’s beauty and mystery.
Now that you understand all about immature fruits and white skin, you can enjoy the rich benefits and savoury flavour of them.
