fruit development stage fruit ripening stage PO:0025502 Succeeds a fruit formation stage (PO:0025501). This stage is to be used for an individual fruit. Fruit ripening (GO:0009835) is defined as: an aging process that has as participant a fruit. Ripening causes changes in one or more characteristics of a fruit (color, aroma, flavor, texture, hardness, cell wall structure) and may make it more attractive to animals and aid in seed dispersal. For the development stage of a whole plant (PO:0000003), use whole plant fruit ripening stage (PO:0007010). 2012-10-06T08:08:16Z plant_structure_development_stage PO_GIT:506 A fruit development stage (PO:0001002) during which a single fruit (PO:0009001) participates in the process of fruit ripening (GO:0009835). rwalls