Abstract
Intercellular deformations, caused by increasing levels of compression applied by a pressure chamber to an organ covered with a plastic sealant and evaluated according to the internal atmosphere removal rate, were observed in carrots ( Daucus carota L. sativa), potatoes ( Solanum tuberosum L.) and sweet-potatoes ( Ipomea batatas L. Lam). The maximum internal gas volume removed in these kinetic assays was close to the intercellular air volume ( V g ) measured by the pycnometric method. Presumably a compression larger than the average organ turgor was required to remove all V g and above this point the cells should become completely flattened against each other. The intercellular deformation caused by a compressing load, observed by constant pressure volumetry, induced a reduction in the endogenous O 2 concentration at the stressed area, according to polarographic measurements. Cellular deformations and eventual V g flooding caused by water movement from the symplasm to the apoplasm of externally compressed organs were distinct from the usual pressure chamber assays, where all cells are exposed to homogeneous gas pressurization, without the development of forces to cause large cellular deformation and intercellular flooding. These gas transport restrictions were suggested as potential causes for post harvest deterioration in fragile commodities subjected to compression.
Published Version
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