Phenolics and enzymes of phenol metabolism in ‘Seedless’ and ‘Calcuttia’ cultivars of litchi grown in North India

Present investigation reports the variability in phenolics and activities of some enzymes involved in their metabolism in pericarp tissue of ‘Calcuttia’ and ‘Seedless’ cultivars harvested at one week interval after fruit set. Total phenolics, flavonols, and phenolic acid contents in litchi fruit pericarp increased after 49 days following fruit set (DAFS), while proanthocyanins showed a small increment initially and then decreased significantly up to maturity. Polyphenol oxidase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, and cinnamate-4-hydroxylase activities followed the similar trend as observed in phenolic content at respective developmental stages, while peroxidase activity in pericarp was low at initial stages and increased gradually with fruit development. Higher phenolic content with low polyphenol oxidase activity in pericarp during initial stages of fruit development in ‘Seedless’ as compared to ‘Calcuttia’ cultivar suggests the slow ripening. A negative correlation between anthocyanin content and anthocyanase...