PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURAL SCIENTIST, cilt.98, sa.3, ss.286-292, 2015 (SCI-Expanded)
Color changes and sugar accumulation in the pods of green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Gina) during development were studied. Green bean was grown in a field in Arslanbey Vocational School, Kocaeli, Turkey. The different stages of development in green bean pods, starting from blooming, were observed, and the pod width was measured. Pods were harvested during the six harvest stages. The width and the length of pods, color L*, a*, b* and hue angle values, and fructose and glucose content were measured. The 4th or 5th developmental stage was ideal for harvest of the green bean pods because the green color in these stages was maintained, and the color brightness was high. Also, the glucose level in the 4th harvest stage and the fructose level in the 5th harvest stage were high. High L* color values with corresponding bright color of pods were observed in both the harvest stages. Color brightness of the pods is the most important quality indicator. The results obtained for other color components (a*, b*, and hue angle) were similar with respect to L* values. Also, the fructose and the glucose content of green bean were high in the 4th and 5th harvest stages.