New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science abstracts

Increased residual activity controls disease in ‘Red Fuji’ apples (Malus domestica) following postharvest heat treatment

Xingfeng Shao1, 2

Kang Tu1,*

Sicong Tu3

Yan Zhao1

1College of Food Science and Technology
Nanjing Agricultural University
Nanjing, 210095
People’s Republic of China
email: kangtu@njau.edu.cn

2Faculty of Life Science and Biotechnology
Ningbo University
Ningbo, 315211
People’s Republic of China

3Faculty of Science
University of New South Wales
Sydney, NSW 2031, Australia

Abstract The efficacy of hot air treatment (38°C, 4 days) on the development of residual activity to control diseases in stored apples (Malus domestica ‘Red Fuji’) was investigated. The study included three separate trials involving apples with artificial wounds and/or with natural micro-wounds. It was found that heat treatment can accelerate the healing of artificial wounds and melt the epicuticular wax to fill in natural micro-wounds. During storage, these two effects provide a strong physical barrier to defend against fungal re-invasion through wounds. Results showed that heat treatment increased chitinase (CHI), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), and peroxidase (POD) activity levels. In addition, phenolic compounds and lignin content increased during the later storage period. Heat treated ‘Red Fuji’ apple fruit showed reduced decay development, indicating disease resistance. It was concluded that heat treatment can induce increased residual activity to control disease in ‘Red Fuji’ apple fruit, via the beneficial effects on wound healing and inducing disease resistance.

Keywords hot air treatment; apple; wound healing; micro-wound; induced disease resistance; residual activity; disease

New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science, 2009, Vol. 37: 375–381
1175–8783 (Online); 0014–0671 (Print)/09/3704–0375 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2009
*Author for correspondence. H08096; Online publication date 25 November 2009
Received 31 October 2008; accepted 16 October 2009

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