Effects of postharvest ethanol vapor treatment on activities and gene expression of chlorophyll catabolic enzymes in broccoli florets

Postharvest yellowing of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. Italica Group) is an important indicator of quality deterioration and occurs with chlorophyll (Chi) degradation. Postharvest ethanol vapor treatment could delay the yellowing of broccoli florets, through the suppression of Chi degradation. As the first step in identifying the mechanism of this delay, the effects of postharvest ethanol vapor treatment on activities and gene expression of the Chi catabolic enzymes in broccoli were determined. Broccoli branchlets were placed in a perforated polyethylene bag with or without (control) an ethanol pad and stored at 20 degrees C in darkness. The Chi contents of the control broccoli florets decreased remarkably after three days in storage, whereas the contents of the ethanol-treated broccoli showed no significant changes except at day one. Changes in chlorophyllase activity in the ethanol-treated broccoli were similar to those of the control until three days in storage, but then the activity tended to decease. Mg-dechelatase and Chl-degrading peroxidase activities, which increased greatly with senescence in the controls, remained unchanged in the ethanol-treated broccoli. BoCLH1 expression showed changes almost similar to those of chlorophyllase activity. BoPAO expression in the control broccoli increased greatly at day one in storage and was maintained at a high level until three days. In contrast, this expression in ethanol-treated broccoli was suppressed until two days. BoRCCR expression in the control broccoli increased until two days in storage, while the expression in the ethanol-treated broccoli showed no change during storage. These results show that postharvest ethanol vapor treatment suppressed the activities and gene expression of Chi catabolic enzymes, resulting in delayed yellowing of broccoli florets. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.