title: Reduction of energy usage in postharvest horticulture through management of ethylene.
abstract: Cool chain management is the preferred technology to extend the postharvest life of horticultural produce, but with rising energy costs and community pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there is a need to use less energy-intensive technologies. Minimising the level of ethylene around horticultural produce inhibits ripening and senescence and therefore has the potential to reduce the use of refrigeration. The long-distance transport of bananas within Australia and from Central America to Europe is used as a case study to show that the need for refrigeration could be reduced if the appropriate concentrations of ethylene were maintained around fruit during transit. Data are also presented to show a similar benefit of ethylene control with green beans, as well as another study showing that apples treated with the ethylene action inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene could be stored at a higher temperature without loss of quality to the consumer. The range of technologies available to manage ethylene levels is discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, NSW, 2258, Australia.
authors.forename: Ron B H
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Wills
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Golding
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D001315:Australia; D058572:Carbon Footprint; D002489:Central America; D003246:Conservation of Energy Resources; D003521:Cyclopropanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005060:Europe; D007887:Fabaceae; D005519:Food Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D061353:Food Storage / Q000379:methods*; D005523:Food Supply; D005638:Fruit / Q000378:metabolism*; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D006801:Humans; D027845:Malus; D028521:Musa; D012034:Refrigeration; D013696:Temperature; D014186:Transportation
chemical_list: D003521:Cyclopropanes; D005030:Ethylenes; C036216:ethylene; C412563:1-methylcyclopropene
keywords: energy savings; ethylene; postharvest horticulture; refrigeration; storage