N. Yamauchi et al., CHLOROPHYLL DEGRADATION IN WASE SATSUMA MANDARIN (CITRUS-UNSHIU MARC.) FRUIT WITH ON-TREE MATURATION AND ETHYLENE TREATMENT, Scientia horticulturae, 71(1-2), 1997, pp. 35-42
Changes in chlorophylls content and their derivatives were determined
to elucidate the differences in chlorophyll degradation of Wase satsum
a mandarin (Citrus unshiu Marc. cv. Miyagawa-Wase) fruit with on-tree
maturation or ethylene treatment. Chlorophylls content in the ethylene
-treated fruit decreased markedly after 2 days of storage at 20 degree
s C. 13(2)-hydroxychlorophyll a and pheophorbide a also decreased duri
ng storage, whereas chlorophyllide a did not decrease for the first 5
days of storage. Chlorophylls, 13(2)-hydroxychlorophyll a, chlorophyll
ide a and pheophorbide a in on-tree matured fruit decreased with degre
ening. A small amount of py ropheophorbide a was detected in on-tree m
atured fruit, but the content showed almost no change during on-tree m
aturation. These results suggest that the acceleration of chlorophyll
degradation by ethylene treatment could be due to the enhancement of c
hlorophyllide a formation by chlorophyllase. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science
B.V.