Abstract
Abstract At any stage of the ripeness of ‘Bartlett’ pear fruits, subsequent ripening was inhibited if the fruits were warmed to 40°C. Both production of, and sensitivity to, ethylene (C2H4) were almost totally suppressed. Even at 30°C, C2H4 production was greatly reduced in both early- and late-season fruit. Unless treated with C2H4, early-season fruit failed to ripen at 30°C although late-season fruit ripened spontaneously, presumably because of high internal concentrations of the gas. In both cases ripening was characterized by a watery breakdown of the floral end of the fruit. At 40° and 50°C, respiratory rates declined progressively unless the fruits were treated with C2H4, whereupon a stimulation occurred although ripening was unaffected. Gas exchange was not limiting at temperatures as high as 50°C, even when the ends of the fruits were sealed with paraffin wax. Maximum modification of the internal atmosphere of any individual fruit resulted in 15.7% O2 and 7.2% CO2. Ripening of fruits held at 20°C in that atmosphere was delayed about 3 days, presumably via mild competitive CO2 inhibition of C2H4 action. We conclude that failure of ‘Bartlett’ pears to ripen at 40°C results from lack of C2H4 production and loss of sensitivity to the gas. The mechanisms are unknown.
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