Effect of temperature on enzymatic and physiological factors related to chilling injury in carambola fruit (Averrhoa carambola L.)

Three groups of carambola fruits (Averrhoa carambola L.) were stored at 2 and 10 degrees C (85-90% relative humidity). The major physicochemical, physiological, and enzymatic responses of fruit were measured in each group over a 30-day period: chilling injury index (CII), decay (%), intracuticular waxes, cuticle permeability, pulp firmness, weight loss, sucrose, fructose and glucose contents, ion electrolyte leakage in pulp (%), ethylene and carbon dioxide production rates, and the activities of peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) enzymes. CII values were statistically different at 2 and 10 degrees C, showing high significance with respect to sucrose content and weight loss (P < 0.05). Chilling injury included darkened ribs and skin desiccation. According to the CI symptom development, a possible relationship of POD and PPO activities was found at 2 degrees C. A significant sucrose content increase was observed at 10 degrees C. CI symptoms were associated with POD and PAL activities.     

Sources of variation in firmness and ester content of ''Cox'' apples stored in 2% oxygen

The contribution of various factors to variation in the quality of 'Cox' apples after storage in 2% oxygen at 3.3°C was investigated. Within one season variation in the firmness of fruits from different orchards could be largely accounted for by correlations with firmness at harvest and the position of the fruit on the climacteric at the time of harvest. However, different relationships were found between these variables in different seasons. The butyl and hexyl acetate contents of fruit were influenced by season and source of fruit, but little affected by maturity at harvest. Ester content was inversely correlated with fruit firmness after storage. Other factors which were expected to influence the ripening of fruit during storage were found to be unrelated to firmness and ester content. These included the respiration rate of fruit during storage, the resistance of the fruit to gaseous diffusion and its specific gravity. Carbon dioxide production was nearly constant at about 2.3 ml kg^-1h^-1 across seasons, sources and harvest dates. Specific gravity seemed to be particularly affected by season, whereas diffusive resistance decreased with maturity.     

Effect of 1-MCP and low-temperature storage on postharvest conservation of camu–camu

Camu–camu, a native fruit from the Amazon region, is a rich source of bioactive compounds. However, its intense metabolic activity and high-water content limit the fruit’s postharvest storage and marketing. The aim of this study, conducted in two parts, was to evaluate the effects of 1-MCP and storage temperature on the physiology and postharvest preservation of camu–camu fruit. In part 1 of the study, fruit harvested at maturity stage 3 were divided into groups: control, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP; 900 nL L^?1; 12 h) and ethylene (1000 µL L^?1; 24 h) and were stored at 22?±?1 °C and 85?±?5% RH for 9 days. In part 2, fruit harvested at maturity stage 3 were stored at 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25?±?1 °C and 85?±?5% RH for 9 days. During storage, fruit were evaluated daily for decay, mass loss, respiratory activity, and ethylene production, and every 3 days they were evaluated for peel color, pulp firmness, soluble solids content, total titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, total chlorophyll, and total anthocyanins. Fruit treated with 1-MCP exhibited delayed ripening due to lower metabolic activity, as evidenced by delay to softening, reduced mass loss and no decay. Storage at 5 °C prevented ethylene production, mass loss, color changes, and maintained pulp firmness, while did not affect soluble solids content. The results indicated that storage of camu–camu fruit at 5 °C or at 25 °C following application of 900 nL L^?1 1-MCP were effective strategies to delay ripening and maintain fruit quality up to 9 days.     

Effects of chilling on tomato fruit texture

The effects of chilling on tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill cv. Caruso) texture were investigated using fruit stored at 22°C (nonchilled) or 5°C (chilled) for 28 days. or at 5°C for 15 days before transfer to 22°C to facilitate ripening during and additional 13 days (prechilled). Prechilled fruit exhibited symptoms of slight chilling injury, i.e. development of mealiness, accelerated softening relative to that of nonchilled fruit and nonuniform surface colour development. The firmness of all fruit decreased during ripening and chilled storage when measured by flat plate compression and puncture, especially during the early stages of ripening of nonchilled and prechilled fruit. The compression firmness of pericarp tissue similarly decreased during ripening of nonchilled and prechilled fruit, but was maintained during chilling. Total moisture content (ca 94%) of tissue, uronide content (32-35% w/w) and extracted β-galactosidase activity did not differ significantly ( P > 0.05) among fruit during ripening and chilled storage. The degree of uronide methyl esterification in ethanol-insoluble solids prepared from pericarp tissue (EIS) was relatively low for all fruit. i.e. <40%. EIS from which greater levels of pectinesterase were extracted (i.e. nonchilled>chilled>prechilled) exhibited decreased levels of uronide methyl esterification. Markedly elevated levels of β-glucosidase activity were extracted from prechilled EIS. Total polygalacturonase activity (mainly as PGI) and autolysis of enzyme-extracted EIS were inversely correlated ( P ≤ 0.05) only with the loss of nonchilled fruit and tissue firmness and prechilled fruit firmness. Results suggest a possible role for β-glucosidase in textural changes of prechilled fruit and tissue (e.g. loss of firmness, development of mealiness) and also implicate loss of skin strength in the softening of whole fruit during chilling.     

Sucrose supply can increase longevity of broccoli (Brassica oleracea) branchlets kept at 22°C

Sucrose was supplied several hours after harvest to broccoli branchlets via the transpiration stream in order to increase the amount of sucrose available for respiration and to determine its influence on longevity at 22°C. Calculations based on solution uptake indicated that an 8% (w/v) sucrose solution supplied sufficient substrate for respiration, but the pattern of respiratory decline after harvest was not altered by supply of exogenous sucrose, and yellowing of floret sepals began after 2 days. However, when sucrose was supplied immediately after harvest, yellowing was delayed. Treatment with cytokinin (50 ppm 6-benzylaminopurine), to delay yellowing, had no effect on levels of sucrose in branchlets after 4.5 days, but retarded loss of chlorophyll. Floret tissues appear to sense the decline in sucrose after harvest, the result being induction of senescence as judged by yellowing. 6-benzylaminopurine may block the sensing mechanism.Abbreviations BAP 6-benzylaminopurine     

Endogenous Sugar Levels and Their Effects on Root Formation and Petiole Yellowing of Detached Mustard Cotyledons

Detached cotyledons of Sinapis alba rooted readily in water in petri dishes in the light. The addition of (6 × 10^?2M) galactose, mannose or 2-deoxy-D-glucose to the culture medium proved toxic to cotyledon growth. Of the other sugars tested that were not toxic, sucrose was the most inhibitory to root formation and increased petiolar yellowing to the greatest extent. Glucose was more inhibitory than fructose which in turn increased petiolar yellowing more than methyl-D-glucose. Sucrose, glucose, or fructose at 6 × 10^?2M in the culture medium gave rise to very substantial increases in the cotyledon petiole of reducing sugar and starch with smaller increases in sucrose. Methyl-D-glucose had much less effect on internal sugar levels. It was found that the higher the internal level of glucose the more rapid the rate and final extent of petiolar yellowing. In general, the degree of petiolar yellowing was inversely related to the ability of the cotyledon to root. Methyl-D-glucose differed from the other sugars in that it delayed and reduced root formation but had very little effect on petiolar yellowing.     

Abscisic acid,sucrose, and auxin coordinately regulate berry ripening process of the Fujiminori grape

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of abscisic acid (ABA), sucrose, and auxin on grape fruit development and to assess the mechanism of these three factors on the grape fruit ripening process. Different concentrations of ABA, sucrose, and auxin were used to treat the grape fruit, and the ripening-related indices, such as physiological and molecular level parameters, were analyzed. The activity of BG protein activity was analyzed during the fruit development. Sucrose, ABA, and auxin influenced the grape fruit sugar accumulation in different ways, as well as the volatile compounds, anthocyanin content, and fruit firmness. ABA and sucrose induced, but auxin blocked, the ripening-related gene expression levels, such as softening genes PE, PG, PL, and CELL, anthocyanin genes DFR, CHI, F3H, GST, CHS, and UFGT, and aroma genes Ecar, QR, and EGS. ABA, sucrose, and glucose induced the fruit dry weight accumulation, and auxin mainly enhanced fruit dry weight through seed weight accumulation. In the early development of grape, starch was the main energy storage; in the later, it was glucose and fructose. Sucrose metabolism pathway-related gene expression levels were significant for glucose and fructose accumulation. BG protein activity was important in the regulation of grape ABA content levels. ABA plays a core role in the grape fruit development; sucrose functions in fruit development through two pathways: one was ABA dependent, the other ABA independent. Auxin blocked ABA accumulation to regulate the fruit development process.     

采前二氧化氯处理对‘海沃德’猕猴桃的防腐保鲜效果

研究了采前二氧化氯（ClO2）处理对采后‘海沃德’猕猴桃果实在冷藏条件下的防腐保鲜效果。分别用浓度（有效成分）为0、20、40、60、80mg·L-1的ClO2溶液,在采收前对果实进行喷布处理,在采收后冷藏过程中定期测定相关生理指标,并在贮藏末期（120d）观察统计其腐烂指数。结果表明,浓度60mg·L-1的ClO2采前处理可有效清除猕猴桃果实表面菌落,并能显著延缓冷藏期间果实硬度的下降、抑制可溶性固型物的上升、降低猕猴桃呼吸速率、乙烯释放速率、失重和腐烂指数,提高过氧化物酶（POD）和苯丙氨酸解氨酶（PAL）的活性。通过比较,确定采前ClO2处理的适宜浓度为60mg·L-1。该浓度的ClO2处理对‘海沃德’猕猴桃具有明显的防腐保鲜效果,可有效延长贮藏期。     

杧果采后生理研究

适期采收的果．采收时呼吸速率为２３．２ｍｇＣＯ２·ｋｇ（－１）ｈ（－１）果皮深绿色．果肉硬度＞３０Ｐ／ｃｍ２．置室温下（３０℃）８ｄ出现呼吸高峰,速率１３２．９ｍｇＣＯ２·ｋｇ（－１）ｈ（－１）,果皮的颜色黄绿各半．果肉硬度８—９Ｐ／ｃｍ２。采后１２—１４ｄ果实达到完熟,果皮金黄色,硬度＜３Ｐ／ｃｍ２,呼吸速率下降到３９—４５ｍｇＣＯ２·ｋｇ（－１）ｈ（－１）。试验结果还表明．可溶性糖、还原糖、非还原糖、固形物等含量．均在采后第５天明显增高,果皮从深绿转为淡绿色。可溶性糖在采后第１４天增至最高．达９．９２％,此时可滴定酸度下降至０．１４％．ＰＨ值升至６．１５,此时为果实的最佳供食状态．生产上可据此为制定果贮藏措施提供依据．     

黄肉红心猕猴桃‘东红’果实在不同贮藏方式下的生理和品质变化研究

以中华猕猴桃（Actinidia chinensis Planch.）黄肉红心新品种‘东红’为材料,对其果实在常温和低温贮藏方式下的生理及品质变化进行了研究。结果表明,果实硬度在2种贮藏方式下均呈先快速下降后缓慢下降的趋势。可溶性固形物含量、总糖含量、固酸比和糖酸比等4个品质指标均表现为先快速上升后维持在较高水平（低温贮藏下）或继续小幅上升（常温贮藏下）的趋势。总酸含量整体上均呈现逐渐下降之势,至果实软熟时稳定在0.9%的水平。维生素C含量却在常温贮藏下基本呈逐渐上升之势,而在低温贮藏下大致表现为先上升后轻微下降。果实失重率和腐烂率均随贮藏时间的延长而逐渐增加,在常温贮藏时上升较快,而在低温贮藏时上升非常缓慢。总体而言,‘东红’果实主要的生理和品质指标在常温贮藏2~3周后或低温贮藏9周后发生明显转变,果实进入可食用阶段;并且继续低温贮藏15周内还能较好地保持果实品质,耐贮性较好。     

The Breakdown of Sucrose During Translocation: With two Plates and one Figure in the Text

When a vine petiole is carrying labelled sucrose away from thelamina, the quantity of labelled carbon dioxide lost from thepetiole bears a constant relation to the quantity of labelledsucrose inside the petiole. Sucrose is virtually the only labelledsugar in the petiole, and the labelled sucrose is confined topart of the phloem. Calculations based on these measurementsand some assumptions suggest that the rate of breakdown of thetranslocated sucrose is about 0·5 mg. per c.c. of phloemper hour. The bearings of these findings on the problem of energysupply to translocation are discussed.     

Exogenous sucrose treatment accelerates postharvest tomato fruit ripening through the influence on its metabolism and enhancing ethylene biosynthesis and signaling

The role of sucrose as a signal molecule in plants was in debate for a long time, until recently, it gradually becomes more prominently accepted. Sucrose plays roles in a vast array of developmental processes in plants, however, its function in fruit ripening has not been well elucidated. In this study, the influence of exogenous sucrose treatment (500 mM) on postharvest tomato fruit ripening was investigated. It was found that, in comparison with mannitol treatment (500 mM, set as control), sucrose accelerated the ripening process with higher levels of respiration rate and ethylene production during the storage. Sucrose treatment up-regulated its biosynthetic genes, whilst stimulated expressions of genes encoding degradation related enzymes in the fruits. However, higher sucrose content was observed in sucrose-treated fruits only in the first few days. In addition, sucrose application had minor effect on the contents of its degrading products, glucose and fructose. Moreover, exogenous sucrose treatment up-regulated expressions of ethylene biosynthetic genes, and promoted ethylene signal transduction via influencing critical genes of the signaling pathway in different patterns. These results indicate that sucrose stimulates tomato fruit ripening may through mediating its own metabolism, which facilitates nutrients fluxes and metabolic signaling molecules activation, and also by enhancing ethylene biosynthesis and signal transduction.     

Effect of eco-safe compounds on postharvest quality preservation of papaya (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Carica papaya</Emphasis> L.)

Early ripening and susceptibility to microbial infection are major postharvest problems in papaya fruits. Being a tropical climacteric fruit, low-temperature storage is not successful in papaya. In this study, we demonstrate the effect of aqueous salicylic acid (1 and 2 mM), nitric oxide (1 and 2 mM), and calcium chloride (1 and 2%) to enhance the papaya shelf life at the ambient conditions with reduced disease incidence. Calcium chloride 2% was the most effective for maintaining postharvest quality. The fruits had good firmness and maintained TSS, acidity, total chlorophyll, free radical scavenging activity and ascorbic acid on the 6th day during ambient storage. Moreover, the weight loss, yellow color development and disease incidence were minimum in calcium chloride 2%, followed by 1% solution of calcium chloride. The nitric oxide (2 mM) maintained higher antioxidant capacity and total phenol content in fruits that was followed by 1 mM salicylic acid during storage. The result suggests that application of calcium chloride 2% could be an easy and effective technique for extending the shelf life without impairing fruit quality during storage.     

The combined effect of 1‐methylcyclopropene and citral suppressed postharvest grey mould of tomato fruit by inhibiting the growth of Botrytis cinerea

1‐Methylcyclopropene (1‐MCP, 1 μl/L) and 1 × minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) citral alone and in combination were used to treat on postharvest tomato fruits to investigate their influence on disease incidence and postharvest quality during fruit storage, which were stored at 90%–95% relative humidity and 25 ± 2°C. Weight loss, pH, hue angle (Hue^°), total soluble solid (TSS), ascorbic acid content, firmness and antioxidant enzyme activities were evaluated after each storage period. 1 μl/L 1‐MCP or 1 × MFC citral reduced weight loss, retarded peel colour changes and retained postharvest fruit quality. 1 μl/L 1‐MCP + 1 × MFC citral could better maintain firmness and ascorbic acid content and increase antioxidant enzyme activities, compared to other treatments. Disease incidence of tomato fruit was significantly decreased, and spore germination and mycelia growth of Botrytis cinerea were suppressed by the combined treatment with 1 μl/L 1‐MCP and 1 × MFC citral. These results indicate that the combined treatment could effectively delay postharvest tomato fruits senescence and inhibit postharvest pathogens in vitro.     

Optimization of selected cultivation parameters for Cordyceps guangdongensis

Aims: To increase the fruit body production of Cordyceps guangdongensis, selected cultivation conditions, especially nutritional parameters were optimized. Methods and Results: Cordyceps guangdongensis was inoculated on potato dextrose agar slants with pH values from 4·5 to 9·0 and cultivated in artificial media with different carbon and nitrogen supplements. Primordium formation in C. guangdongensis was favoured by slightly acidic conditions. Fruit body yields and biological efficiency (BE) recorded were all highest in cultures of C. guangdongensis supplemented with sucrose and KNO₃ as carbon and nitrogen supplements, respectively. Highest fruit body yields and BE values were recorded with C : N ratio of 12 : 1. The optimal medium consisted of (g l^?1) 20·0 sucrose, 4·0 soya bean powder, 5·0 beef extract and 10·0 KNO₃. Cultivation experiments using this medium confirmed its reliability; 18·35% of BE was obtained, compared with a calculated maximum BE of 18·65% based on orthogonal test data. Conclusions: Cordyceps guangdongensis preferred sucrose and potassium nitrate as best carbon and nitrogen supplements. It produced satisfying yield of fruit body with optimized medium. Significance and Impact of the Study: Optimized artificial cultivation conditions could promote the yield of C. guangdongensis and decreased the cost of production.     

黄肉红心猕猴桃‘东红’果实在不同贮藏方式下的生理和品质变化研究

以中华猕猴桃( Actinidia chinensis Planch.)黄肉红心新品种‘东红’为材料,对其果实在常温和低温贮藏方式下的生理及品质变化进行了研究。结果表明,果实硬度在2种贮藏方式下均呈先快速下降后缓慢下降的趋势。可溶性固形物含量、总糖含量、固酸比和糖酸比等4个品质指标均表现为先快速上升后维持在较高水平(低温贮藏下)或继续小幅上升(常温贮藏下)的趋势。总酸含量整体上均呈现逐渐下降之势,至果实软熟时稳定在0. 9%的水平。维生素C含量却在常温贮藏下基本呈逐渐上升之势,而在低温贮藏下大致表现为先上升后轻微下降。果实失重率和腐烂率均随贮藏时间的延长而逐渐增加,在常温贮藏时上升较快,而在低温贮藏时上升非常缓慢。总体而言,‘东红’果实主要的生理和品质指标在常温贮藏2 ~ 3周后或低温贮藏9周后发生明显转变,果实进入可食用阶段;并且继续低温贮藏15周内还能较好地保持果实品质,耐贮性较好。     

Effect of carbon source and sucrose concentration on growth and hexose accumulation of grape berries cultured in vitro

Using in vitro culture of isolated small berries of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Sultana, it was possible to study the effect of different carbon sources and sucrose concentration on fruit growth, hexose accumulation and soluble invertase activity during the first stage of berry development by eliminating the source tissue. Berries cultured in vitro lack stage III of berry development which is characterised by massive accumulation of water and sugars, and thereby berries reached only 30% of the weight of those grown in the plant. Sucrose and glucose were both good carbon sources for berry growth, while fructose was not as good. Berry growth, hexose accumulation and invertase activity increased as sucrose concentration increased up to 15% in the medium. Furthermore, the onset of hexose accumulation in cultured berries depended on the concentration of sucrose in the medium, starting earlier at higher concentrations. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

DNA marker-assisted evaluation of fruit firmness at harvest and post-harvest fruit softening in a diverse apple germplasm

Several different genes have been proposed as responsible for fruit texture variability at harvest and/or after storage. We have analysed 127 apple cultivars for allelic composition in two key genes that are directly involved in the ethylene biosynthesis pathway, Md-ACS1 and Md-ACO1, and two other genes that are involved in cell wall degradation, Md-Exp7 and Md-PG1. Firmness was measured with a penetrometer at harvest and after 6 or 12 weeks (early- and late-maturing cultivars, respectively) of cold storage. Maturation time was positively correlated with firmness at harvest and negatively correlated with fruit softening rate (difference between firmness at harvest and after storage, divided by number of weeks in storage). Polyploid cultivars showed significantly higher firmness at harvest compared to diploids. Alleles previously described as responsible for good texture were associated with significantly lower softening for Md-ACS1 and Md-PG1, but the opposite was noted for Md-EXP7. Results were nonsignificant for Md-ACO1. Allele frequencies were very uneven in all four loci, with the three most common multi-locus configurations accounting for 64 % of the entire material. The predictive power of these genes was calculated with a partial least squares discriminant analysis, and these accounted for 15 % of the observed variation in initial firmness and 18 % for softening rate. Inclusion of maturation time, storage time (i.e. 6 or 12 weeks) and initial firmness into the model however increased the predictability of softening rate to 38 %. Dividing the material in modern (released after 1960) and old cultivars did not change the outcome of our analyses.     

Overexpression of sucrose phosphate synthase increases sucrose unloading in transformed tomato fruit

Sucrose unloading and sink activity were examined in tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum) overexpression sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS; EC 2.3.1.14). Like the leaves, the fruit of the transformed tomato plants had elevated (2.4-fold) SPS activity. SPS over-expression in tomato fruit did not significantly change acid invertase, and only slightly reduced ADPglc ppase activity, but enhanced sucrose synthase activity by 27%. More importantly, the amount of sucrose unloaded into the fruit was considerably increased. Using [³H]- (fructosyl)-sucrose in in vitro unloading experiments with harvested 20-d-old fruit, 70% more sucrose was unloaded into the transformed fruits compared to the untransformed controls. Furthermore, the turnover of the sucrose unloaded into the fruit of transformed plants was 60% higher than that observed in the untransformed controls. Taken together, these results demonstrate that SPS overexpression increases the sink strength of transformed tomato fruit.     

Headspace gas composition in fourPrunus avium cultivars with differing photosynthetic capabilities

Summary Endogenous and exogenous volatile substances were analyzed during 30 days' incubation of four cultivars of thePrunus avium species grown in vitro on a proliferation medium. Cultivars Bigarreau Moreau and Bigarreau Burlat show photosynthetic capability at 35 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹; oxygen concentration slightly increased (22 to 24%), carbon dioxide was lowered to less than 300 μ·liter⁻¹, and low ethylene (0.8 to 1.2·liter⁻¹) accumulation was recorded. Quite different headspace evolution was observed during growth of cultivars Victoria and Casavecchia: a large oxygen concentration decrease was accompanied by a sharp carbon dioxide increase (19%) and ethylene boost (4 to 5 μl·liter⁻¹). The evolution of these gaseous metabolites has been correlated to photosynthetic incapability and respiratory stress responsible for leaf yellowing and tissue softening observed when acetaldehyde and ethanol started to form in cultivars Victoria and Casavecchia. Dry and fresh weight were measured, and no substantial difference was recorded among cultures with low and high photosynthetic capability. Evidence is reported that different genotypes within the same species may follow different metabolic pathways.