Impact of UV-C irradiation on the cell wall-degrading enzymes during ripening of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) fruit

Impact of UV-C irradiation on the cell wall-degrading enzymes during ripening of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) fruit

2000

A:PS

The effect of a hormic dose of UV-C (254 nm) on changes in fruit firmness and cell wall-degrading enzyme (CWDE) activity was determined in harvested, mature-green tomato cv. Trust fruits. Throughout the storage period, a decrease in firmness was jointly observed with an increase of the CWDE (polygalacturonase, pectin methyl esterase, cellulase, xylanase, beta-D-galactosidase, and protease) activity for all treatments, suggesting the involvement of these enzymes in the ripening process. However, the enhancement in the activity of CWDE was significantly less in fruits subjected to the hormic dose of UV-C. This reduction may explain why irradiated fruits were firmer than control and consequently may explain how UV-C could delay the ripening and senescence process. It was suggested that CWDE is one of the targets of UV-C, and by this action, irradiation contributed to a delay of the cell wall egradation and consequently retarded softening of the tomato fruit tissues.

48(3):667-671, JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY

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