ISHS Acta Horticulturae 343: Physiological Basis of Postharvest Technologies
ANAEROBIC METABOLISM OF STRAWBERRIES UNDER ELEVATED CO2 AND REDUCED O2 ATMOSPHERES |
| Authors: | D. Ke, T. El-Sheikh, M. Mateos, A.A. Kader |
| Abstract:
Changes in anaerobic products and enzymes were studied in Selva strawberries kept in air, 20% CO2 + 80% air, 50% CO2 + 50% air, and 0.25% O2 + 99.75% N2 at 5C for 1 to 9 days. The 20% CO2 treatment slightly increased concentrations of acetaldehyde, ethanol, and ethyl acetate. Exposure to 50% CO2 or 0.25% O2 resulted in greater accumulation of the anaerobic volatiles, which was associated with a reduction in fruit flavor. Activities of pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) were slightly increased by the elevated CO2 and reduced O2 atmospheres in the first 5 days. The 0.25% O2 treatment caused a much greater increase in ADH activity after 7 and 9 days. Results from this research and previous studies indicate that induction of alcoholic fermentation in strawberries could be due to 1) increased synthesis of PDC and ADH; 2) activation of PDC and ADH by a decrease in cytoplasmic pH; and/or 3) increased substrate concentrations of pyruvate, acetaldehyde, and NADH. | |
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