ISHS Acta Horticulturae 368: International Symposium on Postharvest Treatment of Horticultural Crops
STRUCTURAL AND CHEMICAL CHANGES OF PEAR SKIN |
| Authors: | E. Kovács, J. Kovács, E. Zackel, J. Genova |
| Keywords: | pear, irradiation, calcium, treatments, scanning electron microscopy, ultrastructure, texture |
| Abstract:
The skin of pear fruit (Pyrus communis L., cvs. Hardenpont, Nemes Kraszszán) was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Different types of cracking of the wax layer were observed on the outer surface of different cultivars. Irradiation and calcium treatments did not result in characteristic changes in cracking of wax layer. Cross sections of skin were also studied. Cells below the skin varied in size and shape in the different cultivars. Irradiation induced the collapse of cells. Calcium treatment preserved the cell structure. The texture of pear skin was (cvs. Hardenpont, Nemes Krasszán, Serres Olivér, Téli Esperes) investigated; the results were in good correlation with ultrastructural changes. The calcium content, accumulation and distribution in pear fruit was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Irradiation promoted the mobilization of calcium toward the skin. Deterioration in the pear was evaluated in comparison with structual and chemical changes in pear skin. | |
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