Biosynthesis and catabolism of starch has been extensively studied in banana, where
prior to ripening, it can account for 20–25% by fresh weight of the pulp tissue. All the starchdegrading
enzymes—α-amylase, β-amylase, α-glucosidase, and starch phosphorylase—
have been isolated from banana pulp. The activities of these enzymes increase during
ripening. Concomitant with the catabolism of starch, there is an accumulation of the sugars,
primarily, sucrose, glucose, and fructose. At the initiation of ripening, sucrose appears to
be the major sugar component, which declines during the advancement of ripening with
a simultaneous increase in glucose and fructose through the action of invertase (Beaudry
et al., 1989). Mango is another fruit that stores large amounts of starch. The starch is
degraded by the activities of amylases during the ripening process. In mango, glucose,
fructose, and sucrose are the major forms of simple sugars (Selvaraj et al., 1989). The sugar