PO₂ – MEASUREMENT IN TISSUE OF ZUCCHINI-SQUASH STORED AT DIFFERENT OXYGEN PARTIAL PRESSURES

Fruits of zucchini-squash (cv. ‘Ambassador’) were stored at 10°C for 7, 14 or 21 days at oxygen partial pressures of 2, 5, 8 or 21 kPa.
The experiment was replicated twice in one year.

The pO₂ of the fruit tissue was measured by polarographic method using needle electrodes moved by a stepper motor across the fruits at the lower and upper third of the fruit length.
During measurement of pO₂ the fruits were held at the mentioned temperature as well as O₂-concentration of the atmosphere.

At cross – section zucchini squash fruit showed a distinct oxygen profile.
Highest pO₂ values were found at the second tenth part of the fruit radius from outside, lowest values in the area of the 7th to 10th part of the fruit radius.
The change from higher to lower pO₂ in the tissue was correlated with the change from fruit flesh tissue to the fruit core tissue.
The lower the oxygen partial pressure of the storage atmosphere the lower were the pO₂ values found in the tissue.
But also the profile became flattened.

XXV International Horticultural Congress, Part 8: Quality of Horticultural Products

J. Weichmann, Chr. Engelhardt

CA-storage, tissue oxygen partial pressure, zucchini-squash

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2000.518.7