Nonclimacteric

Nonclimacteric refers to a class of fruits and other plant tissues that do not exhibit a pronounced increase in respiration rate or ethylene production during ripening. They ripen in a relatively ethylene-independent manner and usually do not respond strongly to exogenous ethylene in the same way climacteric fruits do. By contrast, climacteric fruits show a distinct rise in respiration and ethylene production at the onset of ripening, and ethylene can accelerate ripening after harvest.

In nonclimacteric fruits, ripening proceeds slowly and is often more dependent on other hormones, particularly abscisic acid, and metabolic changes such as sugar accumulation and acid decline. Ethylene treatment often has little or no effect on initiating or accelerating ripening, although some fruits may respond modestly.

Common examples of nonclimacteric fruits include grapes, citrus fruits, strawberries, and cherries. Other fruits such as pineapple, watermelon, and some berries are sometimes categorized as nonclimacteric, depending on the cultivar and assessment criteria.