EARLY DETECTION OF CHILLING INJURY WITH FOURIER-TRANSFORM INFRARED-SPECTROSCOPY

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy detected early large in creases in fluid leakage from zucchini squash (Cucurbitapepo L.) subje cted to a chilling temperature (5C). The increase in fluid leakage (pr incipally water) was found after 1 day at 5C, while surface pitting wa s detected only after 3 days of storage at 5C. Prestorage temperature conditioning at 15C for 2 days greatly diminished the fluid leakage me asured by FTIR spectroscopy after 1 day of storage at 5C. Measuring fl uid leakage using FTIR spectroscopy seems to be a promising technique to detect the early onset of chilling injury.