Water-soaked symptom of 'Andesu' netted melon fruit does not develop under anaerobic nitrogen atmospheres during ripening

Abstract

'Andesu' netted melon fruits (Cucumismelo. L.) were ventilated with pure nitrogen or air for 12 days from35 to 47 DAA or 6 days from 47 to 53 DAA (ripe and over-ripe stages,respectively). Exposure to anaerobic nitrogen atmosphere resulted in higheracetaldehyde and ethanol concentrations, while lower sucrose concentration wasrecorded in the mesocarp compared with air-ventilated fruit. However,water-soaked symptom was not developed under anaerobic nitrogen atmospheres,suggesting that the formation of water-soaking mesocarp tissue does not resultfrom increased alcoholic fermentation and/or decreased soluble sugaraccumulation in the flesh. Anaerobic nitrogen atmospheres also resulted in lowethylene production, high flesh firmness, and inhibition of depolymerisation ofpolyuronides and non-cellulosic neutral sugars in the cell walls. Theimportanceof increased intercellular spaces and membrane permeability on the developmentof water-soaked symptom was suggested.