THE EFFECT OF HIGH-CARBON DIOXIDE AT LOW-TEMPERATURE ON RIBULOSE 1,5-BIPHOSPHATE CARBOXYLASE AND POLYGALACTURONASE PROTEIN-LEVELS IN CHERIMOYA FRUIT

The effect of short-term high CO2 on maintaining postharvest cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill.) fruit quality during storage at low temperat ure was analyzed. Pretreatment with an atmosphere of 20% CO2 and 20% O -2 for 3 days retained fruit firmness and prevented an increase in the immunodetected levels of polygalacturonase-related protein during sto rage at 6 degrees C. Color scale values, chlorophyll content, and leve ls of the immunoreactive large subunit of ribulose 1,5-biphosphate car boxylase protein were higher in treated than in air-stored fruit. Shor t-term high CO2 treatment had a long residual effect at low temperatur e and improved storage life by preventing fruit softening and delaying senescence-like responses in green peel of cherimoya fruit tissues.