Physiological,hormonal and molecular mechanisms regulating chilling injury in horticultural species. Postharvest technologies applied to reduce its impact

The storage of fruits and vegetables at low temperature near the freezing point is the foremost technology applied to retard postharvest ripening and to extend the shelf‐life period of agricultural products. However, most tropical and subtropical produce is sensitive to chilling injury, which constitutes a set of physiological alterations caused by exposure to low temperatures for variable time periods, to the detriment of quality. This article is a thorough review of the physiological, hormonal and molecular mechanisms involved in the induction and development of this physiopathy. Also, the different postharvest technologies of a chemical, physical or biotechnological nature assayed in research or applied in the agro‐food industry with the aim of inhibiting or delaying the emergence of chilling injury in sensitive plant produce of agricultural interest are reviewed. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Alleviation of chilling injury in postharvest tomato fruit by preconditioning with ultraviolet irradiation

BACKGROUND: Tomato fruit is usually stored at low temperatures for delayed ripening and extended shelf life. However, tomato fruit is susceptible to chilling injury when exposed to low temperatures. In this study, the potential effects of preconditioning with UV‐C or UV‐B irradiation on chilling injury of postharvest tomato fruit were investigated. RESULTS: Mature–green tomato fruit were exposed to 4 kJ m^?2 UV‐C or 20 kJ m^?2 UV‐B irradiation and stored for 20 days at 2 °C and subsequently 10 days at 20 °C. UV irradiation was effective in reducing chilling injury index and delaying ethylene peak. Furthermore, UV irradiation preserved storage quality as manifested by reduced weight loss, better retention of firmness, and higher contents of total soluble solids, soluble protein and soluble sugar during subsequent storage at 20 °C. UV‐C irradiation significantly delayed the development of the red colour after 10 days of storage at 20 °C. On the other hand, UV irradiation decreased total phenolics content and antioxidant capacity, suggesting possibly reduced stress response to low temperature resulted from enhanced physiological adaptation by UV preconditioning. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that preconditioning with UV‐C or UV‐B irradiation in appropriate doses had a positive effect on alleviating chilling injury in postharvest tomato fruit. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

CHILLING INJURY. A REVIEW OF QUALITY ASPECTS

The various quality aspects of chilling injury (CI) serve as the focus of this review in which symptoms, occurrence and its alleviation are discussed. CI is a term used to describe the physiological damage that occurs in many plants and plant products, particularly those of tropical and subtropical origin, as a result of their exposure to low but nonfreezing temperatures. The substantial economic consequences of CI have provided the impetus for studying/developing effective means of alleviating symptoms which manifest this disorder. A diversity in plant responses to low temperature stress exists, including alterations in ethylene biosynthesis, increased respiration rates, cessation of protoplasmic streaming, increased solute leakage, and uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. These various responses ultimately give rise to an array of visual symptoms (e.g., surface pitting, water rot, poor color development, general loss of structural integrity) which can render severe losses in product quality both pre- and postharvest. A number of different methods are available by which to alleviate symptom development, including manipulation of storage conditions (e.g., temperature cycling, hypobaric and modified atmosphere storage), exogenous chemical treatments (e.g., application of phospholipids, antioxidants, calcium) and genetic modification of chill sensitive species. These are discussed with respect to their effectiveness and possible control mechanisms.     

桃果实冷害发生机理及御冷措施研究进展

桃果实因其呼吸跃变的特点,采后在室温下会出现呼吸高峰与乙烯释放高峰,极易腐烂,不耐贮藏。冷藏是延长桃果实贮藏期的最有效方法之一,但由于桃果实的冷敏性,长期的不适低温易使桃产生冷害,引起果肉革质化、组织絮败、褐变、固有风味损失等品质劣变问题,成为桃产业健康发展的重要影响因素。本文综述了目前桃果实采后冷害发生的机理的研究进展,总结了冷害对桃果实细胞膜、细胞壁代谢、抗氧化系统及精氨酸代谢的影响,并针对相关机制归纳了桃果实采后冷害控制技术,旨在为桃果实采后保鲜研究和应用提供理论与技术依据。     

Use of 1‐methylcyclopropene for alleviating chilling injury and lignification of bamboo shoot (Phyllostachys praecox f. prevernalis) during cold storage

BACKGROUND: Bamboo shoot is sensitive to chilling, and low‐temperature injury is a major limitation to its long‐term storage. Studies on the causes of postharvest deterioration in bamboo shoot are few. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of ethylene and 1‐methylcyclopropene (1‐MCP) treatments on the physiological and biochemical responses of bamboo shoot and their ability as a postharvest tool to alleviate chilling injury and lignification of bamboo shoot during storage at 2 °C. RESULTS: Disease incidence, electrical conductivity (EC), respiration and ethylene production of control bamboo shoot increased after about 2–3 weeks of cold storage, associated with higher chilling injury (CI) index. Increased shoot firmness during cold storage was positively correlated with higher lignin and cellulose accumulation, and this accumulation of lignin in flesh tissue was also positively correlated with the activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) and peroxidase (POD). Ethylene treatment was associated with higher disease incidence, CI index, EC, respiration and ethylene production, enhanced lignin and cellulose accumulation and accelerated the activities of PAL, CAD and POD. In contrast, 1‐MCP treatment was associated with lower respiration, ethylene production, CI index and EC, reduced lignin and cellulose accumulation and retarded the activities of PAL, CAD and POD. CONCLUSION: The present findings throw light on the role of ethylene in postharvest physiological disorders such as chilling injury and lignification and suggest that 1‐MCP could be used commercially to control these disorders in bamboo shoot during cold storage. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Enzymes associated with blackheart development in pineapple fruit

The involvement of browning enzymes, polyphenoloxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) in blackheart development was investigated in pineapple fruit (Ananas comosus, Smooth Cayenne) following low temperature storage. An increase in PPO activity was related to the incidence of blackheart symptoms, both temporally and spatially. Fruit maturity significantly affected blackheart susceptibility; immature and over-mature fruits developed less blackheart injury than mature fruit. The effect of maturity on blackheart susceptibility was highly correlated to the response of PPO activity to chilling. POD showed no significant change after chilling. Enhanced PAL activity was observed during chilling at 6, 13 and 18 °C. Chilling (6, 13 and 18 °C) also inhibited the increase of ascorbate peroxidase activity observed in the fruit stored continuously at 25 °C, but had less effect on catalase activity. The results indicate that the development of blackheart symptoms in pineapple fruit results from the disturbance of a number of metabolic processes that occur at sub-ambient temperatures.     

不同温度对冬枣冷害程度的影响

为了探讨冬枣冷害发生的温度以及不同低温下冬枣的冷害程度,确定冬枣最佳的贮藏温度,防止贮藏过程中冷害造成的损失,进行了相关实验研究。将冬枣分别在-0.5、-1.5、-2.0、-2.5、-3.0℃下贮藏,测定贮藏过程中冬枣的冷害指数、各项营养指标和生理指标的变化。结果表明:随着温度的降低,冬枣的冷害程度加剧,其中-0.5℃处理组在整个贮藏过程中均未出现冷害症状;-1.5℃处理组仅在贮藏末期90d时出现个别的冷害症状;-2.0、-2.5、-3.0℃处理组在贮藏的中后期均出现冷害症状,其中-3.0℃处理组细胞膜透性、MDA含量、乙醇含量和PPO活性显著高于其它处理组,总酚含量显著低于其它处理组,冷害症状最为严重。     

Effects of storage at chilling temperature on ion absorption,salt retention capacity and respiratory pattern in yam tubers

Yams, like most tropical crops, are subject to chilling injury when stored at temperatures below 10°C. Membrane permeability changes are considered to be among the causative factors. Some physiological parameters associated with the cell membranes were therefore examined in yam tuber tissue. It was established that incipient chilling injury could be rapidly detected by changes in ion absorption and salt retention capacities of tuber disks. Chilling effects were also reflected by changes in respiratory rate. It is proposed that these techniques can be used for rapid screening of tubers of a wide range of yam varieties, to establish optimum and minimum safe storage temperatures.     

Modified atmosphere packaging confers additional chilling tolerance on ethylene-inhibited cantaloupe Charentais melon fruit

Cantaloupe Charentais melon fruits are subject to chilling injury when stored at low temperatures, around 2 °C. Ethylene-suppressed cantaloupe Charentais melon, expressing a 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC)-oxidase gene in antisense orientation, showed strong, but not total, resistance to chilling injury, allowing an extended storage at low temperatures. Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) is known to alleviate chilling injury symptoms in a variety of chilling-sensitive horticultural commodities. In the present work, we have compared the effects of MAP in non-retractile plastic film and storage in air on ethylene production, respiratory activity, development of chilling injury symptoms, water loss, ion leakage and accumulation of ethanol and acetaldehyde in wild-type and ethylene-suppressed melons, during storage at 2 °C and after re-warming at 22 °C. MAP reduced chilling injury and extended the postharvest life of wild-type fruit and conferred additional chilling resistance on ethylene-suppressed melons. Reduction of ethylene production and water loss are necessary to prevent chilling injury symptoms in melon.     

High‐temperature conditioning induces chilling tolerance in mandarin fruit: a cell wall approach

BACKGROUND: High‐temperature conditioning (3 days at 37 °C and 95% relative humidity), which protects ‘Fortune’ mandarins from chilling injury (CI), manifested as pitting in the outer part of the peel (flavedo), was applied prior to cold storage (2 °C) in order to investigate the involvement of cell wall composition in the chilling tolerance of mandarins. RESULTS: Both low‐temperature storage and high‐temperature conditioning barely modified the alcohol‐insoluble substance (AIS) content or the degree of pectin esterification in the flavedo. Water‐soluble pectins (WSP) were higher in heat‐conditioned than in non‐conditioned fruits at the onset of CI. In addition, the heat‐conditioning treatment was able to increase chelator‐soluble pectins (CSP) after short cold storage periods. Covalently bound polyuronides in alkali‐soluble pectins (ASP) increased only in fruits with high incidence of CI. Cellulose and hemicellulose increased at 2 °C in both conditioned and non‐conditioned fruits, indicating that these polysaccharides may be altered by low temperature but are not related to chilling‐induced damage. CONCLUSION: High‐temperature conditioning may reduce chilling‐induced flavedo pitting in ‘Fortune’ mandarin fruit by maintaining normal levels of WSP and increasing putative sites for calcium bridge formation within the cell wall, but not by inducing changes in other matrix cell wall components. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

冷害对茄子果实贮藏品质的影响

研究冷害对茄子果实贮藏品质的影响,旨在阐明冷害温度下茄子果实品质劣变的规律。茄子采后分别于冷害温度[(40 ± 1)℃,简称4℃]和非冷害温度[(13 ± 1)℃,简称13℃]贮藏10d,定期测定贮藏期间两组的品质变化。结果显示,4℃条件下茄子果实在第4 天表面出现轻微褐变,随后日趋严重,而在13℃条件下的果实10d 内未发生冷害症状。冷害会加速茄子采后失重率和膜透性的上升,促进叶绿素、可滴定酸(TA)和VC 含量下降,促进贮藏中、后期(4～10d)可溶性糖、还原糖、可溶性蛋白和游离氨基酸含量下降。可见,冷害会促进茄子采后贮藏品质的劣变,降低茄子的食用价值和商品价值。     

果蔬成熟度与抗冷性的关系及其作用机理研究进展

果蔬成熟度是影响其抗冷性的重要因素,不同成熟度的果蔬由于细胞膜脂肪酸组分、细胞内含物（可溶性固形物、糖、钙、脯氨酸）含量、各类相关代谢活动（呼吸代谢、乙烯代谢、活性氧代谢、膜脂代谢）等方面存在差异而表现出不同的抗冷性。在前人相关研究的基础上,本文对果蔬的采收成熟度与抗冷性的关系及其作用机理进行综述。旨在为确定果蔬更适宜低温贮藏的采收成熟度以及减轻果蔬贮藏冷害提供理论依据。     

The chilling of carcasses

Biochemical processes and structural changes that occur in muscle during the first 24h postmortem play a great role in the ultimate quality and palatability of meat and are influenced by the chilling processes that carcasses are subjected to after slaughter. For beef and lamb, employing chilling parameters that minimize cold shortening is of greatest importance and can be best addressed by ensuring that muscle temperatures are not below 10°C before pH reaches 6.2. For pork, because of the impact of high muscle temperatures and low pH on the development of pale, soft, and exudative (PSE) pork, a more rapid chilling process is needed to reduce PSE with the recommended internal muscle temperature of 10°C at 12h and 2-4°C at 24h. Spray chilling, a system whereby chilled water is applied to carcasses during the early part of postmortem cooling, is used to control carcass shrinkage and to improve chilling rates through evaporative cooling. Delayed chilling can be used to reduce or prevent the negative effects of cold shortening; however, production constraints in high-volume facilities and food safety concerns make this method less useful in commercial settings. Electrical stimulation and alternative carcass suspension programs offer processors the opportunity to negate most or all of the effects of cold shortening while still using traditional chilling systems. Rapid or blast chilling can be an effective method to reduce the incidence of PSE in pork but extreme chilling systems may cause quality problems because of the differential between the cold temperatures on the outside of the carcass compared to the warm muscle temperatures within the carcass (i.e., muscles that are darker in color externally and lighter in color internally).     

不同贮藏温度及时间对黄瓜果实冷害发生的影响

为了研究不同贮藏温度及贮藏时间对黄瓜果实冷害的影响规律,对0～20℃的贮藏温度下,在贮藏时间15d内的黄瓜果实的细胞膜电解质渗透率进行了系统测试。结果表明:黄瓜冷害的发生与贮藏温度及处理时间有关,而电解质渗透率的变化能很好地体现不同贮藏温度及时间下,黄瓜细胞组织受损程度及与冷害发生的关系。研究发现,0℃下的渗透率最高,渗透率变化最为明显,渗透率增量最大。表明贮藏温度越低,电解质渗透率变化越明显,出现跃变的时间越早,则黄瓜冷害发生得越早;随着贮藏时间的延长,细胞膜电解质渗透率随之增加,冷害随之加重。同时,适当的变温处理可以有效地缓解和抑制冷害的发生,延长贮藏期。     

KEEPING QUALITY OF FRESH-CUT BITTER GOURD (MOMORDICA CHARANTIA L.) AT LOW TEMPERATURE OF STORAGE

Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L. cv. Wanningqinglv) fruit is chilling sensitive and usually cannot be stored at a low temperature for a long period. To learn how the quality of the fruit might be influenced by cutting and storage temperature, whole and cut bitter gourds were placed in polyethylene pouches and stored at 2 or 10C. The results showed that the cutting enhanced the microbial growth, loss of chlorophyll (Chl), starch and ascorbic acid (Vc), and increased reducing sugar content, ethylene production and respiration rate of bitter gourd. The decrease of Chl, starch, soluble protein and Vc in the cut bitter gourd was significantly reduced by storage at 2C relative to storage at 10C. No significant indication of chilling injury in the cut or intact bitter gourd was observed during the storage for 7 days at 2C. These results suggest that fresh‐cut bitter gourd can be stored at 2C to maintain its quality with high levels of Vc, Chl, soluble protein and microbiological safety.     

贮前热处理对2℃贮藏黄瓜抗冷性和自由基生物学的影响

为减轻黄瓜低温贮藏时的冷害,研究了薄膜包装和贮藏前热处理对2℃条件下冷藏3周后黄瓜的冷害指数、失重、腐烂率和活性氧代谢的影响。薄膜包装极显著抑制了黄瓜的严重失水,但对冷害无显著影响,并加重了黄瓜的腐烂。在薄膜包装条件下,42℃热水处理和48℃热水处理防止了黄瓜腐烂的发生,极显著减轻了冷害,提高了活性氧清除酶SOD、CAT和POD活性,从而降低活性氧Q_2·~-和H_2O_2含量,抑制膜脂过氧化。贮前热水处理结合薄膜包装能有效防止黄瓜低温贮藏时的大量失水和腐烂,抑制活性氧代谢失调,极显著降低冷害。     

低温贮藏引起果蔬冷害的研究进展

果蔬在不适低温下贮藏易发生冷害,冷害可造成果蔬的贮运损失,使其食用品质下降。综述了果蔬在低温下贮藏时冷害发生的症状、机理,并重点介绍了抑制果蔬冷害的几种措施,其中包括温度调节、气调贮藏、化学物质处理等,最后提出减缓和控制低温冷害进一步研究的方向。     

COLD-CONDITIONING TREATMENT REDUCES CHILLING INJURY IN MEXICAN LIMES (CITRUS AURANTIFOLIA S.) STORED AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES

Induction of different antioxidant enzymes by high and low temperatures prior to storage has been reported to produce tolerance to chilling injury (CI). Thus, different prestorage temperatures have been suggested to decrease CI in citrus fruits. In this work, the effectiveness of a cold‐conditioning treatment (13C for 48 h) to prevent CI was evaluated in Mexican limes (Citrus aurantifolia S.) stored at 4, 10 and 25C, and 90% relative humidity. Cold conditioning reduced 1.6‐fold CI symptoms, induced a significant increase of 2.2‐fold peroxidase activity and maintained the activity of superoxide dismutase in limes kept at 4C. Our results suggest that the effectiveness of the cold‐conditioning treatment in increasing chilling tolerance in Mexican limes depends on the induction or maintenance of antioxidant enzymatic systems during the entire storage period.     

间歇升温对采后香蕉李贮藏中酶促褐变的影响

以香蕉李为试材,研究不同的间歇升温对低温贮藏的李果实酶促褐变的影响。结果表明,李果实在冷藏20d 时启动冷害,多酚含量和PPO 活性逐渐下降,冷害指数显著增大,果实正常后熟过程受阻。同时,低温胁迫诱导了SOD 活性的增加,而冷害又激发CAT 或POD 活性的上升,说明受冷害果实的保护酶系统在抵抗逆境胁迫方面具有一定的协同作用。随着贮藏时间的延长,MDA 含量逐渐上升,冷害和褐变程度加剧。而间歇升温提高了SOD、POD 和CAT 的活性,抑制了活性氧的积累,减弱了膜脂过氧化的程度,延缓了冷害的发生,特别是间歇升温到18℃抑制冷害的效果更好,促进果实逐渐后熟,延迟了果实的衰老进程。而间歇升温到10℃贮藏前期虽然对冷害症状有所缓解,但果实成熟老化速度较快,贮藏后期老化的果实不耐低温贮藏,导致冷害加剧,果实褐变现象严重。