COULD STUDIES ON CELL RESPONSES TO LOW-OXYGEN LEVELS PROVIDE IMPROVEDOPTIONS FOR FRUIT STORAGE AND DISINFESTATION

Cellular responses of harvested horticultural products to reduced part ial pressure of oxygen in controlled atmospheres (CA) or modified atmo spheres (MA) storage include reduced energy charge, reduced energy ava ilability for repair and maintenance, cytoplasmic acidification, and a ctivation of glycolysis and toxic glycolytic end products. These respo nses are compared with those of root cells to flooding and of vertebra te and invertebrate animal cells to oxygen deficit. The capacity to se nse incipient oxygen stress and, when time, temperature and stress lev el permit, adapt and so avoid cell damage, is emphasised. The applicat ions of CA and MA technologies could be extended if adaptive changes i n the plant products were fostered during the early stages of storage. The use of a combination of heat and oxygen deficit for disinfestatio n is another possibility. A need for more fundamental studies of energ y metabolism in horticultural products in CA is recognised.