title: Postharvest internal browning of pineapple fruit originates at the phloem.
abstract: A typical symptom of postharvest chilling injury (PCI) in pineapple fruit (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.) is internal browning (IB) near the fruit core. Since vascular bundles (VBs) are localized to this region, it was hypothesized that the VBs might be the site of IB. To test this, the anatomy and histochemistry of VBs during chilling stress in four pineapple cultivars with different levels of sensitivity to PCI were examined. Fruit were stored at 10°C for up to three weeks to stimulate translucency symptoms (TS; the initiation of IB). After three weeks of chilling exposure, the cultivars 'MD2' showed 0%, 'Pattavia' and 'Savee' showed 10-16%, and 'Trad Sri Thong' showed 100% TS and IB symptom. Scanning electron microscopy and in situ histochemical staining techniques that detect enzymes and substrates commonly associated with IB initiation were used in parallel. The TS of pineapple fruit coincided with the collapse of the phloem tissue. The VBs in the tissue where IB was initiated (i.e., the flesh adjacent to the core or F/C) had the highest activity of polyphenol oxidase, hydrogen peroxide, and phenolic compounds. The IB-resistant 'MD2' genotype had fewer VBs, but a greater proportion of sclerenchyma fibers (P<0.05) than did the susceptible 'Trad Sri Thong'. Based on these data, the first report of pineapple IB occurrence in the phloem was proposed.
authors: Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand. Electronic address: agrkdl@ku.ac.th.
authors: Kietsuda
authors: K
authors: Luengwilai
authors: Department of Plant Sciences, Mail Stop 3, University of California, Davis CA 95616, USA.
authors: Diane M
authors: DM
authors: Beckles
authors: Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140, Thailand.
authors: Jingtair
authors: J
authors: Siriphanich
mesh_terms: D031230:Ananas / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004156:Catechol Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005638:Fruit / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010636:Phenols / Q000378:metabolism; D052585:Phloem / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D010636:Phenols; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D004156:Catechol Oxidase
keywords: Black heart; Postharvest chilling injury; Translucency symptom; Vascular bundles