Aezam Rezaee Kivi - Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Islamic Azad University, Khalkhal, Iran

Activities of the cell wall degrading enzymes cellulase, polygalacturonase, and β-galactosidasewere determined on unripe, semi-ripe, and ripe raspberry (Rubus caesius L.) fruit. The enzymeactivity, measured as μmoles of released product.g-1 of fruit h-1 indicated the presence ofpolygalacturonase, cellulose, and β-galactosidase in raspberry fruit. Enhanced fruit ripening wasreflected by increased values for cellulase, polygalacturonase abd β- galactosidase activity. Inraspberry cellulose, polygalacturonase, and βgalactosidase appear to be involved in fruitsoftening during unripe to the ripe stages.

Raspberry, fruit ripening, cellulase, polygalacturonase, β-galactosidase