Sugar metabolism in relation to chilling tolerance of loquat fruit

The relationship between chilling injury and sugar metabolism was investigated in loquat fruit stored at 1 °C for 35 days. No symptoms of chilling injury occurred in the fruit, of ‘Ninghaibai’ cultivar, during the whole storage whereas, in ‘Dahongpao’ fruit, severe chilling symptoms were observed after 20 days of storage at 1 °C. ‘Ninghaibai’ fruit had higher levels of glucose and fructose and higher activities of sucrose hydrolyzing enzymes, such as sucrose synthase-cleavage and invertase, than had ‘Dahongpao’. Furthermore, the chilling resistant ‘Ninghaibai’ fruit also showed higher activities of hexokinase and fructokinase, involved in hexose phoshorylation and sugar signal generation. These results suggest that the higher content of hexoses and activities of hexose sensors were likely part of the mechanism for chilling tolerance of loquat fruit.     

Peach fruit acquired tolerance to low temperature stress by accumulation of linolenic acid and N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine in plasma membrane

Peach fruit (Prunuspersica L. cv. Beijing 33) did not show symptoms of chilling injury in 0 °C-Air or 0 °C-CA, but did in 5 °C-Air after 21 d. The mechanisms by which 0 °C storage could activate chilling tolerance of peach fruit were investigated by analysing characteristics of plasma membrane. We found that peach fruit stored in 0 °C-Air and 0 °C-CA had much higher linolenic acid content and unsaturation degree of plasma membrane than did that in 5 °C-Air. In addition, the fruits stored in 0 °C-CA showed a higher membrane fluidity and membrane integrity than did that in 0 °C-Air, which was related to the accumulation of N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine (NAPE) of peach fruits stored in 0 °C-CA. Based on these results, it appears that a higher unsaturation degree of membrane lipid and NAPE accumulation are beneficial for maintaining membrane fluidity, leading to an enhanced tolerance of peach fruit to chilling stress.     

Crucial contribution of membrane lipids’ unsaturation to acquisition of chilling-tolerance in peach fruit stored at 0 °С

Peach fruits (Prunus persica L.) were less prone to chilling injury (CI) when stored at 0 °С than at 5 °С for 30 days. In order to make known the mechanism involved, the relationship between CI and membrane lipid unsaturation was investigated in this study. The results demonstrated that peach fruit stored at 0 °С manifested higher membrane lipid fluidity and higher membrane lipid unsaturation than at 5 °С. In addition, a higher omega-3 fatty acid desaturase gene (FAD) mRNA level and a higher level of linolenic acid (C18:3) were found when peach fruits were stored at 0 °С. The findings indicated that the higher membrane lipid unsaturation in peach fruit stored at 0 °С was beneficial in maintaining membrane lipid fluidity and enhancing tolerance of peach fruit to low temperature stress, and the C18:3 level could be regulated by omega-3 FAD.     

γ-Aminobutyric acid treatment reduces chilling injury and activates the defence response of peach fruit

Peach fruit were immersed in 5 mM γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) solution for 10 min at 20 °C and then stored at 1 °C for 5 weeks to investigate the effect of GABA treatment on chilling injury (CI), antioxidant enzymes and energy status in peach fruit. The results showed that GABA treatment significantly inhibited CI incidence of peaches and enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, monodehydroascorbate reductase and dehydroascorbate reductase. The treatment also increased contents of adenosine triphosphate and adenosine diphosphate, but lowered adenosine monophosphate content, which resulted in a higher level of energy charge in treated fruit. These results indicated that GABA increased chilling tolerance of peach fruit through enhancing its enzymatic antioxidant system and maintaining energy status in peach fruit.     

Antioxidant enzyme activities in strawberry fruit exposed to high carbon dioxide atmospheres during cold storage

The effects of storage, in air or a 20% CO₂ in air (16.8% O₂) atmosphere for 12 d at 2 °C, on antioxidant enzymes of strawberry fruit (Fragaria x ananassa Duch. cv. ‘Jewel’) were investigated. The concentrations of acetaldehyde, ethanol and ethyl acetate associated with fermentation were measured, and the activities of peroxidase (POX), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) assayed. Ethanol, acetaldehyde and ethyl acetate concentrations increased in CO₂-treated fruit within a day of treatment, but more extensively after four days, while concentrations remained low in air-stored fruit. The total protein content extracted was not affected by CO₂ or storage time. Activities of POX were similar in air- and CO₂-treated fruit, with an increase occurring only in air-treated fruit on day-12. Neither CAT nor SOD activities were affected by CO₂ treatment. In summary, a 20% CO₂ storage treatment induced fermentation but did not significantly affect total antioxidant enzyme activities.     

Effect of high-temperature-conditioning treatments on quality,flavonoid composition and vitamin C of cold stored ‘Fortune’ mandarins

The effect of high-temperature-conditioning treatments (1–2 days at 37 °C) on fruit quality, flavonoids, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and vitamin C was investigated in chilling-sensitive ‘Fortune’ mandarins subjected to single or double quarantine treatments (16 or 32 days at 1.5 °C, respectively). High temperature-conditioning treatments, which reduced chilling injury, allowed fruits to withstand quarantine treatments without affecting the fruit quality, vitamin C or TAC. Hesperidin and isorhoifolin were the most abundant flavonoids followed by didymin and narirutin, whereas the polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs) nobiletin and tangeretin were the less abundants. Didymin and narirutin slightly increased (∼1.5-fold) at 1.5 °C. A 4-fold increase occurred in eriocitrin, though its concentration was much lower. Small differences in flavonoids were found between non-conditioned fruit and fruit conditioned for 1 day after cold storage and their concentration in carpellary membranes were, in general, much higher than in juice. Therefore, fruit conditioning at 37 °C allows chilling-sensitive citrus cultivars to withstand quarantine treatments without having deleterious effects on the fruit quality, vitamin C or relevant flavonoids.     

Effects of modified atmosphere package (MAP) with a silicon gum film window and storage temperature on the quality and antioxidant system of stored Agrocybe chaxingu

Packages of Agrocybe chaxingu with or without silicon gum film windows were flushed with an initial modified atmosphere (MA) 100 mL/L O₂, 100 mL/L CO₂ and balance N₂ and stored at 1 °C and 3 °C, respectively. The changes in gas headspace, sensory, content of malondialdehyde (MDA), generation of superoxide anion, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) of mushroom were investigated. A. chaxingu stored in MAP without silicon gum film window at 1 °C had the poorest sensory quality because of chilling injury and physiological injury caused by a combination of storage temperature and poor atmosphere conditions (O₂ under 9 mL/L and CO₂ above 172 mL/L since Day 4). These injuries induced a relatively high content of MDA and generation of superoxide anion. The antioxidant enzyme system, including SOD, CAT and POD, was stimulated, to increase activities and scavenge the reactive oxygen species (ROS) to reduce injury during the initial storage period. However, these injuries also induced senescence of the stored mushroom, which resulted in decreased activities of antioxidant enzyme system. The activities of antioxidant enzyme system of A. chaxingu stored in MAP with silicon gum film window at 3 °C was the most favourable to delay the senescence process in the latter part of storage period, and the mushroom had the best quality to the end of storage.     

Effect of cultural system and storage temperature on antioxidant capacity and phenolic compounds in strawberries

The effects of cultural systems and storage temperatures on antioxidant enzyme activities and non-enzyme antioxidant components in two cultivars (‘Earliglow’ and ‘Allstar’) of strawberries were investigated. Fruit samples were hand-harvested from organic and conventional farms in Maryland, USA, and were stored at 10, 5 and 0 °C. The results from this study showed that strawberries grown from organic culture exhibited generally higher activities in antioxidant enzymes. Moreover, the organic culture also produced fruits with higher level of antioxidant contents. Strawberries stored at higher temperature (10 °C) had higher activities of antioxidant enzymes and antioxidant capacities than those stored at lower temperatures (0 or 5 °C), in both organic and conventional cultural systems. In conclusion, strawberries produced from organic culture contained significantly higher antioxidant capacities and flavonoid contents than those produced from conventional culture, and even though low storage temperatures retarded decay, they also reduced the increase in antioxidant activities.     

Effect of methyl jasmonate on cell wall modification of loquat fruit in relation to chilling injury after harvest

Loquat fruit were pretreated with 10 μM methyl jasmonate (MeJA) for 24 h at 20 °C, and then stored at 1 °C for 35 days to investigate the effect of MeJA treatment on cell wall modification in relation to chilling injury. Loquat fruit developed chilling injury, manifested as increased fruit firmness and internal browning, decreased extractable juice during storage. These chilling injury symptoms were significantly reduced by MeJA treatment. MeJA also markedly delayed the increases in lignin, alcohol insoluble residues, hemicellulose and cellulose. Meanwhile, the MeJA-treated fruit exhibited significantly lower activities of phenylalanine ammonia lyase, peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and higher polygalacturonase activity than the control during storage. The levels of water- and CDTA-soluble pectins in MeJA-treated fruit were also significantly higher than that in the control. These results suggest that the reduction in chilling injury by MeJA may be due to inhibited lignin accumulation and enhanced cell wall polysaccharides solubilisation.     

Reducing Chilling Injury of Loquat Fruit by Combined Treatment with Hot Air and Methyl Jasmonate

The effects of a combined treatment of hot air (HA, 38 °C for 6 h) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA, 16 μmol L^?1) on chilling injury, fruit quality, and physiological changes in loquat fruit stored at 1 °C were investigated. The results showed that treatment with HA or MeJA alone both significantly alleviated chilling injury in loquat fruit compared with the control, while their combination had the lowest level of chilling injury symptoms and highest quality. The activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and catalase were enhanced by the combination of HA and MeJA. In addition, the combined treatment significantly inhibited the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase, which resulted in lower lignin content. Highest level of polygalacturonase activity and water-soluble pectin content and lowest level of protopectin content were also observed in the combined treatment. These results suggested that the enhanced chilling tolerance by combination of HA and MeJA treatment in loquat fruit was related to the induction of antioxidant enzymes and the inhibition of lignin biosynthesis. The combination of HA and MeJA treatment could be a useful technique to alleviate chilling injury and maintain quality of loquat fruit during cold storage.     

Soluble Sugar Content and Metabolism as Related to the Heat-Induced Chilling Tolerance of Loquat Fruit During Cold Storage

The effects of high-temperature, short-time hot air treatment (45 °C for 3 h) on soluble sugar metabolism and chilling tolerance in loquat fruit stored at 5 °C for 5 weeks were investigated. Heat treatment significantly reduced chilling severity, as evidenced by lower firmness and internal browning and higher levels of extractable juice. Meanwhile, this treatment accelerated the activities of acid invertase, neutral invertase, sucrose phosphate synthase and sucrose synthase during storage. However, sucrose degradation was predominant, which caused lower levels of sucrose and higher levels of glucose and fructose in the heat-treated group. In addition, the ascorbate acid content and the activities of ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase in the heat-treated fruit were much higher than those in control fruit, resulting in lower levels of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde and decreased membrane permeability as well as a higher unsaturated/saturated fatty acid ratio at the end of storage. Our results suggest that the increased levels of reducing sugars, especially those of glucose, may induce the ascorbate–glutathione cycle activity to scavenge for H₂O₂, whose content relates to the heat-induced chilling tolerance of loquat fruit.     

外源褪黑素通过调控活性氧代谢减轻采后杏果实冷害

为探究褪黑素处理对杏果实采后冷害和活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)代谢的影响,本研究以'赛买提'杏为材料,采用不同浓度(50、100、200μmol/L)的褪黑素进行减压渗透处理(0.05?MPa保持2 min,后恢复常压继续浸泡8 min),以蒸馏水处理作对照,处理后的杏果实置于温度(...     

MeJA induces chilling tolerance in loquat fruit by regulating proline and γ-aminobutyric acid contents

Loquat fruit were pretreated with 10 μmol l⁻¹ methyl jasmonate (MeJA) for 24 h at 20 °C and then stored at 1 °C for 35 days to investigate the effect of MeJA treatment on chilling injury (CI) and changes in the contents of proline and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The control fruit exhibited severe flesh leatheriness, a specific CI symptom, after 21 days of storage at 1 °C, but it was reduced in MeJA-treated fruit. During the development of CI in fruit, proline and GABA accumulated with the storage time, while MeJA treatment enhanced the increases in proline and GABA contents. The MeJA-treated fruit exhibited higher activities of Δ¹-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS), ornithine δ-aminotransferase (OAT) and glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), and lower proline dehydrogenase (PDH) activity than control during storage. These results suggest that the reduction in CI in loquat fruit by MeJA may be due to the increased proline and GABA contents.     

Cell wall-modifying enzymes and firmness loss in ripening ‘Golden Reinders’ apples: A comparison between calcium dips and ULO storage

Calcium treatment and storage under ultra-low oxygen (ULO) conditions are common post-harvest practices aimed at delaying ripening-related softening of apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) fruit, but the biochemical mechanisms underlying these effects have not been determined conclusively to date. In this study, commercially mature ‘Golden Reinders’ apples were dipped in 2% calcium chloride prior to storage at 1 °C and 92% RH under either regular air or ultra-low oxygen (ULO; 1kPa O₂:2kPa CO₂) for 19 or 31 weeks, and kept thereafter at 20 °C for 0, 7 or 14 days in order to simulate the usual marketing time. Cell wall composition and cell wall-modifying enzyme activities were determined in relation to fruit firmness. ULO-storage and calcium dips were effective for firmness preservation, seemingly due to decreased pectin solubilisation. β-Galactosidase, α-l-arabinofuranosidase and pectate lyase activities were correlated positively with firmness loss of ‘Golden Reinders’ fruit after storage.     

Effects of short-term anoxia treatment on browning of fresh-cut Chinese water chestnut in relation to antioxidant activity

The effects of short-term anoxia pre-treatment on browning of fresh-cut Chinese water chestnut (CWC), stored at 4 °C, in relation to antioxidant activity were investigated. CWC slices were exposed to pure N₂ for 4 h and then stored at 4 °C for 18 d. Anoxia significantly inhibited browning of CWC slices during storage, accompanied by lower contents of malondialdehyde, H₂O₂, and lipoxygenase activity. Furthermore, anoxia induced the activities of superoxide dismutase and ascorbate peroxidase, which could benefit scavenging reactive oxygen species and alleviating lipid peroxidation. In addition, better maintenance of reducing power and free-radical-scavenging activities against α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazy (DPPH), superoxide anions and hydroxyl was observed in N₂-treated CWC slices, with higher phenolic compounds and ascorbic acid contents. Collectively, these finds suggest that N₂ pre-treatment enhanced enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activity in CWC slices, and thereby contributed to alleviating lipid peroxidation and maintenance of storage quality.     

Changes in red pepper antioxidants as affected by UV-C treatments and storage at chilling temperatures

Chilling injury (CI) is one of the main factors limiting refrigeration in several horticultural commodities of subtropical and tropical origin such as pepper. Short UV-C treatments before low temperature storage have been shown to reduce CI. In this work we wanted to test whether or not the reduced susceptibility to CI in UV-C treated fruits was associated with increased levels of antioxidant compounds and enzymes. Red peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) were treated with UV-C radiation (10 kJ/m²) and stored at 0 °C for 21 d. During storage we analyzed chilling injury development, ascorbic (AA) and dehydroascorbic acids and DPPH radical scavenging capacity. We also followed superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) activities. CI increased rapidly when the fruit was stored for longer than 14 d, but was significantly lower in UV-C treated peppers. Exposure to UV-C did not alter fruit color but reduced weight loss. Although AA and DPPH radical scavenging capacity were lower in the control, this occurred towards end of storage, when CI was already advanced. In contrast, SOD, CAT and APX activities were higher in UV-C treated fruits during the first 2 weeks of storage when the symptoms became visible. Results show that UV-C exposure prevents CI and weight loss in red pepper and suggest that this might be related to increased activity of antioxidant enzymes.     

Shelf-life extension of highbush blueberry using 1-methylcyclopropene stored under air and controlled atmosphere

The potential of 1-methylcyclopropene for controlling ripening in ‘Lateblue’ blueberry fruit was explored. After harvest, blueberry fruits were exposed to 1-MCP (0.3 and 0.6 μl l⁻¹). After treatment, samples were stored in air at 0 °C for 35 days and in a controlled atmosphere (3 kPa O₂ + 11 kPa CO₂) for 60 days. Quality parameters were monitored (weight loss, total soluble solids content, titratable acidity, firmness, anthocyanin content, phenolic content, total antioxidant capacity). Blueberries treated with 1-MCP showed a reduced weight loss during storage and a lower total soluble solid content compared to untreated fruit. High titratable acidity values were observed after controlled atmosphere storage, but no significant effect of 1-MCP on this parameter was observed. 1-MCP had no significant effects on anthocyanins, phenolics or antioxidant activities.     

Effect of allyl isothiocyanate on antioxidant enzyme activities,flavonoids and post-harvest fruit quality of blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L., cv. Duke)

The effect of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) on antioxidant enzyme activities, flavonoid content, and fruit quality of blueberries var. Duke (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) was evaluated. Results from this study showed that AITC was effective in maintaining higher amounts of sugars and lower organic acids compared to untreated fruit during storage at 10 °C. However, AITC reduced antioxidant enzyme activities [superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (G-POD), glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-POD), ascorbate peroxidase (AsA-POD), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDAR) and glutathione reductase (GR)] and non-enzyme components, ascorbate (AsA) and glutathione (GSH). AITC treatments also reduced the amount of phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid, myricetin 3-arabinoside, quercetin 3-galactoside, quercetin 3-arabinoside, and kaempferol 3-glucoside) and anthocyanins (delphinidin 3-galactoside, delphinidon 3-glucoside, delphinidin 3-arabinoside, petunidin 3-galactoside, petunidin 3-glucoside, petunidin 3-arabinoside, malvidin 3-galactoside, and malvidin 3-arabinoside) during storage at 10 °C. The results from this study indicate that AITC does not promote antioxidant property or scavenge constitutive reactive oxygen species (ROS), but maintain blueberry fruit quality through other mechanisms.