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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Effects of anti-ethylene treatments on browning and energy metabolism of harvested litchi fruit

H. Qu A , X. Duan A , X. Su A , H. Liu A and Y. Jiang A B
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A South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Leyiju Guangzhou 510650, P. R. China.

B Corresponding author. Email: ymjiang@scbg.ac.cn

Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 46(8) 1085-1090 https://doi.org/10.1071/EA04238
Submitted: 11 November 2004  Accepted: 14 September 2005   Published: 5 July 2006

Abstract

Litchi fruit were treated with 10 mL/L ethylene (C2H4), 0.1% cobalt chloride (CoCl2) and 1 mL/L 1-methylcyclopropene, respectively, packed individually in closed but vented containers, and then stored at ambient temperature (28–33°C). The effects of these treatments on the browning, energy metabolism and disease incidence of the fruit were investigated. Treatment with C2H4 enhanced the activities of polyphenol oxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. Ethylene also increased the accumulation of ADP and AMP, but decreased energy charge in fruit peel. Cobalt chloride treatment had an inhibitory effect on increases of peroxidase activity, ATP : ADP ratio, energy charge and ATP, ADP and AMP. Browning index was reduced by 8.4 and 10.4% and disease index was reduced by 10.7 and 12.7% in CoCl2 and 1-methylcyclopropene-treated fruit, respectively, suggesting a relationship between energy metabolism, browning and disease index.


Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge financial support of the International Foundation for Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden (Grant E/3260–1), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 30400026) and the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (Grant 30425040).


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