Effects of intermittent warming on chilling injury and physiological and biochemical responses of mango fruits.
Zhang ZhaoQi, Hong HanJun, Li XuePing, Ji ZuoLiang
Author Affiliation: Department of Horticulture, South-China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
Acta Horticulturae Sinica 24 : 329-332
Abstract : The effects of intermittent warming of mango fruits during cold storage for 31 days on chilling injury, and physiological and biochemical responses were studied. Intermittent warming delayed the chilling-induced increase in ethylene production and respiration rate of fruits stored at 2°C. It also delayed the increase of polyamines in the pericarp and maintained these polyamines at a high level, maintained superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the pericarp at a high level, retarded the increase of membrane permeability and increased the ability of the fruits to withstand chilling injury. Peaks of ethylene production and respiration rate occurred earlier and were higher when fruits stored at 10° were intermittently warmed, leading to lower SOD activity in the pericarp, and accelerated ripening and senescence.