Kok Jeng Lim, Phebe Ding, Nazmi Mat Nawi, Mashitah Jusoh
This study characterized the morphological and physical attributes of bronzing-affected jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. cv. Tekam Yellow) at three maturity stages (10, 12, and 14 weeks after anthesis, WAA), with emphasis on rind and flesh characteristics influencing fruit quality. A factorial design was applied to evaluate the effects of health status (healthy vs. bronzing-affected) and maturity stage on color parameters (L*, a*, b*, chroma), fruit density, flesh thickness, and tissue distribution (rind, core, and aril mass proportions). Maturity significantly influenced morphological development in healthy fruits, which showed progressive increases in flesh thickness and stable internal tissue balance, reaching a maximum flesh thickness of 7.94 mm at 14 WAA. In contrast, bronzing-affected fruits exhibited reduced chromatic intensity, thinner flesh (minimum 5.99 mm at 12 WAA), lower edible yield, and altered rind-to-core ratios. These differences indicate that bronzing is associated with measurable structural and colorimetric modifications that affect fruit quality. The findings provide quantitative evidence of the interaction between maturity stage and bronzing incidence and identify flesh thickness and color attributes as practical indicators for distinguishing healthy and affected fruits, supporting objective quality evaluation in jackfruit production systems.