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Title: A role for ethylene in the yellowing of broccoli after harvest

Abstract

Ethylene production from florets of Shogun harvested broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) held at 20C in darkness increased as the sepal tissues yellowed. The pattern of respiration rate and ethylene production from branchlets or entire heads was similar, although the magnitude of ethylene and carbon dioxide production appeared to be diluted by the other fleshy stem tissues. The reproductive structures, stamens and pistil, may have a role in determining the rate of sepal degreening, since removing them from florets reduced the yellowing rate. The pistil and stamens also had 7-fold higher levels of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) oxidase activity and more than double the ethylene production of other tissues within the floret. Stamen ACC oxidase activity was high on the first day after harvest, before yellowing became obvious. Changes in ACC oxidase activity of the pistil and stamens mirrored changes in ACC content in these tissues. The climacteric status of harvested broccoli was confirmed by exposure to 0.5% propylene. Propylene stimulated respiration and ethylene production and accelerated yellowing. Broccoli tissues did not respond to propylene immediately after harvest. In tissues aged in air before treatment, the time for response to propylene was shorter, a result suggesting a change in tissuemore » sensitivity. Ethylene exposure induced a dose-dependent decline in hue angle, with 1 ppm ethylene giving the maximum response.« less

Authors:
; ; ;  [1]
  1. New Zealand Inst. for Crop and Food Research, Levin (New Zealand). Levin Research Center
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
7242239
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 119:2; Journal ID: ISSN 0003-1062
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; BRASSICA; SENSITIVITY; ETHYLENE; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; METABOLISM; ALKENES; FOOD; HYDROCARBONS; MAGNOLIOPHYTA; MAGNOLIOPSIDA; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; PLANTS; VEGETABLES; 560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology

Citation Formats

Tian, M S, Downs, C G, Lill, R E, and King, G A. A role for ethylene in the yellowing of broccoli after harvest. United States: N. p., 1994. Web.
Tian, M S, Downs, C G, Lill, R E, & King, G A. A role for ethylene in the yellowing of broccoli after harvest. United States.
Tian, M S, Downs, C G, Lill, R E, and King, G A. 1994. "A role for ethylene in the yellowing of broccoli after harvest". United States.
@article{osti_7242239,
title = {A role for ethylene in the yellowing of broccoli after harvest},
author = {Tian, M S and Downs, C G and Lill, R E and King, G A},
abstractNote = {Ethylene production from florets of Shogun harvested broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) held at 20C in darkness increased as the sepal tissues yellowed. The pattern of respiration rate and ethylene production from branchlets or entire heads was similar, although the magnitude of ethylene and carbon dioxide production appeared to be diluted by the other fleshy stem tissues. The reproductive structures, stamens and pistil, may have a role in determining the rate of sepal degreening, since removing them from florets reduced the yellowing rate. The pistil and stamens also had 7-fold higher levels of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) oxidase activity and more than double the ethylene production of other tissues within the floret. Stamen ACC oxidase activity was high on the first day after harvest, before yellowing became obvious. Changes in ACC oxidase activity of the pistil and stamens mirrored changes in ACC content in these tissues. The climacteric status of harvested broccoli was confirmed by exposure to 0.5% propylene. Propylene stimulated respiration and ethylene production and accelerated yellowing. Broccoli tissues did not respond to propylene immediately after harvest. In tissues aged in air before treatment, the time for response to propylene was shorter, a result suggesting a change in tissue sensitivity. Ethylene exposure induced a dose-dependent decline in hue angle, with 1 ppm ethylene giving the maximum response.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7242239}, journal = {Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science; (United States)},
issn = {0003-1062},
number = ,
volume = 119:2,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1994},
month = {Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1994}
}