High Hydrostatic Pressure Effects on Vegetable Structure

Cryo-fracture scanning electron microscopy revealed the changes that cauliflower and spinach leaves undergo after treatment with high hydrostatic pressure. High pressure changed cell permeability and enabled movement of water and metabolites from inside to outside of the cell. The ultrastructure showed that parenchyma organization disappeared in spinach leaf and cavity formation occurred after treatment. However, cauliflower exhibited a firm structure with a soaked appearance and would be more suitable than spinach for high hydrostatic pressure treatment.