Vol. 79 No: 6

Title:
Effects of polyamines on ethylene production, respiration and ripening of kiwifruit

Authors:
J. T. PETKOU, T. S. PRITSA, and E. M. SFAKIOTAKIS

pp: 977-980

Abstract:
The effects of polyamines (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) at 1 and 10 mM on ethylene production, respiration and ripening of ´Hayward` kiwifruit [Actinidia deliciosa, (A. Chev.) C.F. Liang et A.R. Ferguson var. deliciosa, ´Hayward`] were studied, over a single season, using vacuum, dipping and pressure infiltration. Vacuum or dipping infiltration of putrescine at 1 mM suppressed ethylene production, while pressure infiltration had no effect. Fruit treated with spermine had higher ethylene production than controls, whereas flesh firmness was not affected. Spermidine effects were intermediate. The effect of polyamines on fruit behaviour therefore depended both on the compound and on the method of infiltration. Pressure, alone, retarded fruit ripening, inhibited ethylene production and reduced respiration slightly. The effectiveness of pressure as a method for prolonging kiwifruit storage is discussed.

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