Effect of Chilling on Respiration and Volatiles of California Lemon Fruit

Abstract

Abstract The respiration, ethylene production and ethylene, ethyl alcohol, and acetaldehyde content of the internal atmosphere of citrus fruit increased at 20°C following exposures to chilling temperatures (0° and 5°) compared with fruit placed directly at 20°C. The increases were greater the longer the exposure and greater following exposure to 0° than following exposure to 5°. Exposure to 12.8°, a nonchilling temperature, did not elicit a stimulation of these attributes when transferred to 20°. Ethylene, ethyl alcohol, and acetaldehyde in the internal atmosphere of fruit remained at the same levels during the chilling exposures. During storage at 12.8° the acetaldehyde content in the internal atmosphere increased, but the ethylene and ethyl alcohol content did not. The chilling injury sustained by citrus fruit during storage could be evaluated by transferring samples to 20° and determining the respiratory rate, ethylene production or the volatile content in the internal atmosphere 24 hours after transfer to 20°.