Studies of the Patterns of Cell Wall Material Metabolism in Postharvest Apricot Fruits at Different Degrees of Maturity
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Abstract:
In order to explore the changes in the metabolism of cell wall materials in postharvest apricot fruits with different degrees of maturity, Xinjiang "Saimaiti" apricot fruits were analyzed in this study. According to the yellowing rate, the fruits were classified into three different stages of maturity: I (colored area:<50%), II (colored area: 50~80%), and III (colored area: >80%). These fruits were stored at 4°C with 90~95% relative humidity (RH) and several related physiological indices were determined every seven days. The results showed that the content of water-soluble fraction (WSF) of pectin and cyclohexane diaminotetraacetic acid (CDTA)-soluble fractions (CSF) of pectin and cellulose were in the order of maturity stage I < maturity stage II < maturity stage III, while the content of sodium bicarbonate-soluble and sodium hydroxide-soluble fractions of pectin were in an order of maturity stage I > maturity stage II > maturity stage III. From maturity stage I to stage III, the lignin content and the activities of polygalacturonase (PG), pectin methylesterase (PME), β-glucosidase (β-G), and cellulase (Cx) showed a downward trend after the initial increase. However, at the end of storage, the cellulose content and the PG and PME activities of the apricot fruits at maturity stage II were lower than those at stages I and III (p < 0.05), and the lignin content at stage II was higher than that at stages I and III (p<0.05). The fruit firmness and Cx activity of apricot fruits at maturity stage II were significantly higher than those of the fruits at maturity stages I and III. These results suggested that maturity stage II could be selected as a suitable maturity stage for postharvest storage of apricot fruits.
