Chilling injury in relation to ethylene biosynthesis in 'Kensington Pride' mango fruit.
Suresh Nair, Zora Singh, Tan S. C.
Author Affiliation: Horticulture/Viticulture, Muresk Institute, Division of Resources and Environment, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U1987, Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia.
Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology 79 : 82-90
Abstract : Mature fruits of mango (Mangifera indica) cv. Kensington Pride were stored at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20°C for 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days to induce different levels of chilling injury (CI), and to elucidate its relationship with ethylene biosynthesis during storage and fruit ripening periods. CI index, fruit ethylene production, ACC content, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidoreductase (ACC oxidase) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase (ACC synthase) activities were assayed from fruit skin and pulp during different storage temperatures and periods, as well as during ripening. CI index significantly increased as the storage temperature was lowered and as the exposure period was increased from 1 to 28 days. Ethylene production, ACC content, and ACC oxidase and ACC synthase activities in skin and pulp were significantly decreased during storage and ripening periods in fruits stored at chilling temperatures compared with those stored at non-chilling temperatures. The exogenous application of Ethrel [ethephon] enhanced ethylene production and reduced CI symptoms on fruits. In conclusion, the suppression of ethylene biosynthesis with increased CI and the reduction of CI with the exogenous application of Ethrel suggest that ethylene is involved in CI development.