Influence of the application pre-harvest of calcium in the polygalacturonase, pectin methylesterase and ?-galactosidase activity and texture of the mangos 'Tommy Atkins' stored under refrigeration.
Evangelista R. M., Chitarra A. B., Chitarra M. I. F.
Author Affiliation: Departamento de Horticultura/UNESP, Caixa Postal 237, 18603-970 - Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
Ciência e Agrotecnologia 24 : 174-181
Abstract : The effect of calcium, applied as calcium chloride at 0, 2.5 and 5.0% during pre-harvest, on fruit texture and on polygalacturonase, pectin methylesterase [pectinesterase] and ?-galactosidase activities in mango cv. Tommy Atkins was investigated in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1995. Fruits treated with 5% calcium chloride gave firmer fruits and resulted in lower activity of polygalacturonase and ?-galactosidase. A decrease in quality of fruit texture and an increase in polygalacturonase and ?-galactosidase activity were observed during storage at 10°C, while no pectin methylesterase activity was observed in any calcium chloride treatment.