Abstract

MARTINEZ-TELLEZ, M. A. et al. Polyamine and thermal conditioning reduce chilling injury and affect β-galactosidase activity in zucchini squash. Rev. Chapingo Ser.Hortic [online]. 2008, vol.14, n.3, pp.243-248. ISSN 2007-4034.

This two-stage study was conducted to assess the effect of prior conditioning on the chilling injury index (CII) and enzymatic activity of β-galactosidase in zucchini fruits in cold storage (2.5 or 10 °C). In the first stage, zucchini fruits were conditioned at 15 °C for 48 h prior to storage at 2.5 °C. In the second stage, the polyamines putrescine (PUT), spermidine (SPD) and spermine (SPM) at concentrations of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 y 4.0 mM, were applied exogenously on fruits stored at 2.5 °C for 12 days. It was found that conditioning at 15 °C and storage at 10 °C reduced CII by 84 and 40%, respectively. β-galactosidase activity increased gradually in the course of 12 d in response to all of the treatments, except for a decrease on day four at 10 °C. Polyamine application at all the concentrations decreased the CII, PUT being the most effective, followed by SPM and SPD. Infiltration of polyamines induced a reduction of β-galactosidase activity during 12 days of storage at 2.5 °C, with SPM having the greatest effect. All the polyamines at 4.0 mM caused a CII similar to that of the control.

Keywords : Cucurbita pepo L.; physiological disorders; postharvest technology.

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