Influence of the storage temperature on volatile emission, carotenoid content and chilling injury development in Star Ruby red grapefruit

Abstract

Grapefruits are sensitive to develop chilling injury (CI) on the peel upon postharvest storage at low temperature. We investigated the influence of the storage at 2 and 12 °C on CI, carotenoids, and emission of volatiles by intact fruit. CI symptoms at 12 °C were restricted to green fruit peel sectors but at 2 °C the CI severity was higher and distributed through the whole fruit surface. Fruit peel coloration and carotenes content increased at 12 °C whereas experienced minor changes at 2 °C. At 2 °C the emission of total volatiles and specific monoterpenes, mainly limonene, but also linalool and α-terpineol was enhanced, while storage at 12 °C resulted in higher emission and diversity of cyclic sesquiterpenes and aliphatic esters. Results indicate a selective emission of volatiles by intact red grapefruit that appears to be a specific response to the storage temperature or to the cold-induced damage.