Respiration and ethylene production in harvested watermelon fruit: evidence for nonclimacteric respiratory behavior
Elkashif, M.E. | Huber, D.J. | Brecht, J.K.
The postharvest behavior of watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thumb.) Matsum and Nakai] fruit harvested at selected stages of development and stored in air or exposed to 50 microliters ethylene/liter or 6500 microliters propylene/liter was investigated. Characteristics measured included the effects of ethylene or propylene on ripening, respiration, ethylene production, and fruit firmness. Ethylene treatment induced a rapid deterioration of fruit at all maturation stages, as evidenced by the acute placental tissue softening and watersoaking. Melons of all maturation stages held in air showed little textural change throughout storage and produced only trace quantities of ethylene. Respiratory activity of fruit at each maturation stage was enhanced in the presence of ethylene or propylene and returned to normal rates upon removal of the gases. Ethylene production was not initiated by exposure of fruit to propylene, and was detected only in fruit exhibiting symptoms of decay. The results support the conclusion that watermelon fruit exhibit a nonclimateric pattern of ripening.
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