Objective: To describe the morphological characterization and to determine the maturation phases of the black zapote (Diospyros digyna Jacq.).Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative and quantitative variables were considered for tree, leaf, flower and fruit. A completely randomized design was used with a selection criterion that the fruits were physiologically mature, ANOVA statistical analysis was applied to the data obtained using the statistical package of InfoStat version 2017e, the comparisons between parthenocarpic and non-parthenocarpic fruits were performed with a t-student and Tukey test for the comparison of means between the maturation phases of the fruits.Results: The stem was found to have a distinctive black color of this species, shaped like a wide columnar cup. The leaf blade is lanceolate with a smooth border, the flowers are yellow and the corolla is wide and tubular. Nonparthenocarpic fruits (NPC) presented two forms: elongated cordiform and oval; while the parthenocarpic fruits presented aldo two forms: cordiform and round. The weight, lenght and diameter of the NPC fruits were of 318.58 and 470.32 g, 99.29 and 94.26 mm and 85.32 and 101.04 mm, respectively. There were also found five stages of ripening of the fruit. Limitations on study/implications: the results revealed that there are no morphological differences between plants and flowers. However, in the case of leaves and fruits differences were found in both materials.Findings/conclusions: Differences in the thickness and diameter of the petiole were found in NPC and PC fruit plants. Likewise, the results indicate that there are four forms of fruits and five stages of maturation for black zapote.
