[Organic acids of various kinds of vegetables. IV. Changes in the acids and sugar in tomatoes, sweet peppers and cucumbers during development and ripening].

Concentrations of organic acids and sugars in tomatoes and sweet peppers change notably during ripening. The concentration of malic acid decreases while that of citric acid increases considerably and in redripe fruits clearly exceeds the content of malic acid. Several maxima and minima in acid concentrations occur during development. Both species show constant proportions of citric and isocitric acid (200:1 and 30:1 respectively). In sweet pepper, quinic and ascorbic acid can be found in noticeably higher amounts than in tomatoes. Additionally, succinic acid was detected in tomatoes and fumaric and shikimic acid in sweet pepper. Glucose and fructose, in approximately equal amounts, are the main sugar components; their concentrations are increased during ripening, especially in sweet peppers. The leaves of tomatoes and sweet pepper contain more malic acid and less citric acid than redripe fruits, though here as well citric acid predominates. There is considerably less glucose and fructose present in the leaves of sweet pepper than in the fruits while sucrose is increased. Sucrose is the main sugar component in the leaves. Compared to tomatoes and sweet peppers, egg-plants contain more amounts. - Potatoes contain citric, malic, quinic, succinic, fumaric, and soluble oxalic acid (in order of decreasing amounts). - In cucumbers malic acid notably exceeds citric acid. Both acids hardly change in concentration during ripening. Sugar content decreases during ripening.