Abstract
The softening of the femented vegetables and the fruits was resulted from the degradation of pectin substances, cellulose, hemicellulose by polygalacturonase(PG), pectinesterase(PE), Cx-cellulase, $\beta$-galctosidase. The conversion of insoluble pectin to soluble pectin in cell wall-middle lamella was a major factor in the changes of firmness. Ca2+ was substantially increased firmness. However, Ca2+ could be removed from cell wall by chelating agents such as oxalic acid and citric acid. And Ca2+ was replaced with Na+ by ion exchange reaction. Ca2+ deficient tissue was vulnerable to attack by PG. Preheating treatment and Ca2+ addition is most effective in inhibiting the vegetable food softening and in increasing middle lamella-cell wall regidity, which PE activation by preheating treatment and Ca2+ addition could created more anionic carboxyl groups for cationic materials binding such as Ca2+ and chitosan and for polypectategel formation. Excessive demethylation by PE was associated with loosening of middle lamella cell wall components and softening.