title: Vacuum infusion of plant or fungal pectinmethylesterase and calcium affects the texture and structure of eggplant.
abstract: The effect of vacuum infusion on eggplant quality of a commercial fungal (Aspergillus niger) and citrus pectinmethylesterase (PME) with calcium chloride (4000 ppm) was investigated after processing and during storage. Firmness of infused eggplants using fungal or citrus PME was significantly increased compared to controls (fresh noninfused and water-infused control) after processing and during storage for 7 days at 4 degrees C. Activity of fungal PME-infused eggplant increased almost 32 times, whereas activity of eggplant infused with Marsh grapefruit PME increased 2-fold. Degree of esterification of pectin of eggplants infused with fungal or citrus PME decreased slightly. Cryo-SEM showed that samples treated with fungal PME/ CaCl2 displayed more integrity among cells as compared with water-infused control. The change of pectin in the cell wall was visualized using monoclonal antibodies JIM5 (low-esterified pectin) and JIM7 (high-esterified pectin). JIM5 showed more binding than JIM7 with the cell walls of eggplant tissues from fungal PME/ CaCl2 treatment.
authors.affiliation: Center for Ultrastructural Research, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA.
authors.forename: Panida
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Banjongsinsiri
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shields
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wicker
mesh_terms: D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000201:enzymology*; D002122:Calcium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry; D002957:Citrus / Q000201:enzymology*; D020285:Cryoelectron Microscopy; D004951:Esterification; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods; D010368:Pectins / Q000032:analysis; D032323:Solanum melongena / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects*; D014618:Vacuum
chemical_list: D010368:Pectins; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; C022323:pectinesterase; D002122:Calcium Chloride