CHILLING INJURY. A REVIEW OF QUALITY ASPECTS

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe various quality aspects of chilling injury (CI) serve as the focus of this review in which symptoms, occurrence and its alleviation are discussed. CI is a term used to describe the physiological damage that occurs in many plants and plant products, particularly those of tropical and subtropical origin, as a result of their exposure to low but nonfreezing temperatures. The substantial economic consequences of CI have provided the impetus for studying/developing effective means of alleviating symptoms which manifest this disorder. A diversity in plant responses to low temperature stress exists, including alterations in ethylene biosynthesis, increased respiration rates, cessation of protoplasmic streaming, increased solute leakage, and uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation. These various responses ultimately give rise to an array of visual symptoms (e.g., surface pitting, water rot, poor color development, general loss of structural integrity) which can render severe losses in product quality both pre‐ and postharvest. A number of different methods are available by which to alleviate symptom development, including manipulation of storage conditions (e.g., temperature cycling, hypobaric and modified atmosphere storage), exogenous chemical treatments (e.g., application of phospholipids, antioxidants, calcium) and genetic modification of chill sensitive species. These are discussed with respect to their effectiveness and possible control mechanisms.