INFLUENCE OF CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERES ON THE RESPIRATION ACTIVITY OF ACHLOROPHYLLOUS VEGETABLE KINDS

The storage life of isolated plant organs is dependent upon the metabolic activity of these organs leading to a loss of ingredients; it is, on the other hand, also affected by microorganisms degrading the host tissue and leading to rot.

The later process is promoted indirectly by a high metabolic activity of the stored vegetable product which weakens the host tissue more rapidly.

That both kinds of degradation depend strongly on the temperature is undoubted.
There is less agreement, however, as far as the general influence of the atmosphere on the metabolic activity is concerned although CA- storage has been found to be very successful in the preservation of pome fruit and is gaining considerable importance in the long-term storage of cabbage (1).

Under the premises described before, namely that a slower degradation and hence reduced metabolic activity are prerequisite for a better preservation of the product, the respiration intensity of isolated plant organs can be regarded as an indication for their storage behaviour.

By using the respiration activity as criterion we have therefore tried to examine the preserving effect of controlled atmospheres on different vegetable kinds, particularly on achlorophyllous plant organs including root, shoot and blossom organs.

Symposium on Postharvest Handling of Vegetables

H. Bohling, H. Hansen

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1981.116.21