• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.545-549
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• 2001

The relationship between ethylene action and flesh softening in post-storage persimmon fruits was investigated by treating the fruits with 1-MCP. The patterns of firmness change caused by various treatments with 1-MCP and ethylene were similar to those of changes in cell wall-degrading enzyme activities, including cellulase, PG, PME, and ${\beta}$-galactosidase. Moreover, the activities of these enzymes were inhibited by 1-MCP treatment. These results show that the cell wall-degrading enzymes influenced by ethylene account for the flesh softening process of post-storage persimmon fruit. The ethylene production of fruits, as measured by ACC content and ACC oxidase activity, nevertheless, was not influenced by 1-MCP treatments. It is suggested that the flesh softening phenomena in post-storage persimmon fruits is correlated to the ethylene responsiveness of tissue rather than the ethylene production rate per se.