Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Fleshy fruits are classified physiologically into climacteric and non-climacteric categories based on their ripening respiration and ethylene production profiles.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Climacteric fruits (e.g., bananas, mangoes, tomatoes, apples) are characterized by:
1. A sharp, abrupt upsurge in respiration rate (respiratory climacteric) during ripening.
2. An autocatalytic surge in endogenous ethylene production.
3. The ability to ripen normally after being harvested at physiological maturity (mature-green stage).
Because they can ripen off the tree, they do NOT need to be harvested only after ripening (in fact, they are harvested green for commercial transport).
Step 3: Final Answer:
Therefore, 'Harvested only after ripening' is NOT a characteristic of climacteric fruits.