All the available literature states that pineapples are nonclimacteric. Climacteric fruit are characterized by an increase in respiration associated with ripening followed by decreased respiration at the end of ripening. Classic examples of climacteric fruit are apples, pears, tomatoes and avocados. Nonclimacteric fruit on the other hand tend to exhibit a decline in respiratory activity associated with ripening events. Examples of nonclimacteric fruits are grapes and citrus. In citrus, as well as pineapple, soluble solids may increase during long term storage as well as titratable acidity decreasing. This is due to continued fruit respiration and transpiration following harvest.

Pineapple, again like citrus, will respond to low dose ethylene treatment which triggers the degradation of chlorophyll (green color) in the citrus peel, ethylene also can cause the degradation of chlorophyll in the rind of the pineapple; but this is not tied to internal ripening effects.

                                                                                                --Mary Lu Arpaia