Abstract
In this chapter, we consider the effects of low levels of O2 and high levels of CO2 on the longevity of detached plant tissues; the effects of slicing on tissue metabolism; the determination of gas diffusivities through plant tissues, e.g., the diffusion of CO2 in apples and potato tubers; the measurement of gases in intercellular spaces; experimental modeling for appropriate gas environments in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), taking into account the rate of respiration; and both steady-state and dynamic modeling for MAP. The most important aspect of MAP for the longevity of these commodities is the decrease in O2 concentration that leads to the induction of a metabolic depression. In the case of climacteric fruit, the metabolic depression is saturable with respect to O2 concentration. For instance, in apple fruits, the delay in the onset of the ethylene climacteric is initiated when the O2 concentration drops below 8%. Also a combination of low temperature (1–2.5 °C) and low O2 concentration (1.5–2.5%) can extend the storage life of apples for a year.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Abdul-Baki AA, Solomos T (1994) Diffusivity of carbon dioxide through the skin and flesh of ‘Russet Burbank’ potato tubers. J Am Soc Hort Sci 119:742–746
apRees T, Beevers H (1960) Pentose phosphate pathway as a major component of induced respiration of carrot and potato slices. Plant Physiol 35:839–847
Bailey-Serres J, Chang R (2005) Sensing and signaling in response to oxygen deprivation in plants and other organs. Ann Bot (Lond) 96:507–518
Banks NH (1985) Estimating skin resistance to gas diffusion in apples and potatoes. J Exp Bot 36:1842–1850
Banks NH, Kays SJ (1988) Measuring internal gases and lenticel resistance to gas diffusion in potato tubers. J Am Soc Hort Sci 113:577–580
Beevers H (1961) Plant respiration. Row, Paterson and Co., New York
Ben-Yehoshua S, Shapiro B, Even-Chen Z, Lurie S (1983) Mode of action of plastic film in extending life of lemon and bell pepper fruits by alleviation of water stress. Plant Physiol 73:87–93
Biale JB (1946) Effect of oxygen concentration on respiration of avocado fruit. Am J Bot 33:363–373
Biale JB (1960) Respiration of fruits. In: Wolf J (ed) Handbuch der Plantephysiologie. Encyclopedia of plant physiology, vol X11/2. Springer, Berlin, pp 536–592
Blackman FF (1954) Analytical studies in plant respiration. Cambridge University Press, London
Brädle R (1968) Die Verteilung der Sauerstoffkonzentrationen in fleischigen Speicherorganen (Apfel, Bananen, Kartofelknollen). Ber Schweiz Bot Ges 78:330–364
Briggs GE, Hope AB, Robertson RN (1961) Electrolytes and plant cells. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford
Burg SP, Burg EA (1965) Gas exchange in fruits. Physiol Plant 18:870–886
Burg SP, Burg EA (1967) Molecular requirements for the biological activity of ethylene. Plant Physiol 42:144–151
Burton WG (1950) Studies on the dormancy and sprouting of potatoes. I The oxygen content of potato tuber. New Phytol 49:121–134
Burton WG (1974) Some biophysical principles underlying the controlled atmosphere storage of plant material. Ann Appl Biol 78:149–168
Butler W, Cook C, Vaya ME (1990) Hypoxic stress inhibits multiple aspects of potato tuber wound process. Plant Physiol 93:264–270
Cameron AC (1989) Modified atmosphere packaging: a novel approach for optimizing package oxygen and carbon dioxide. In: Controlled Atmosphere Research Conference, Wenatchee, WA
Cameron AC, Yang SF (1980) A simple method for the determination of resistance to gas diffusion in plant organs. Plant Physiol 70:21–23
Cameron AC, Boylan-Pett WE, Lee J (1989) Design of modified atmosphere systems. Modeling oxygen concentrations within sealed packages of tomato fruits. J Food Sci 54(1413–1416):1421
Chevillotte P (1973) Relation between the reaction of cytochrome oxidase-oxygen uptake in cells in vivo. The role of diffusion. J Theor Biol 39:277–295
Chinnan MS (1989) Modeling gaseous environment and physio-chemical changes of fresh fruits and vegetables in modified atmospheric storage. American Chemical Society Symposium, pp 189–202
Clicke RE, Hackett DP (1963) The role of protein and nucleic acid synthesis in the development of respiration in potato tuber slices. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 50:243–250
Crank J (1970) The mathematics of diffusion. Clarendon Press, Oxford
Davies DD (1980) Aerobic production of organic acids. In: Davies DD (ed) The biochemistry of plants. A comprehensive treatise, vol 2. Academic, New York, pp 581–611
Deily KR, Rizvi SSH (1982) Optimization of parameters for packaging of fresh peaches in polymeric films. J Food Process Eng 5:23–41
Douce R (1985) Plant Mitochondria. Academic, New York
Fidler JC, Wilkinson BG, Edney KL, Sharples RO (1973) The biology of apple and pear storage. Research Review. No. 3. Commonwealth Bureau of Horticulture and Plant Crops. East Malling, Maidstone, Kent
Geigenberger P (2003) Response of plant metabolism to too little oxygen. Curr Opin Plant Biol 6:247–256
Giovannoni JJ (2004) Genetic regulation of fruit development and ripening. Plant Cell 16(Supplement):S170–S180
Goldbeter A (1991) Models for oscillation and excitability in biochemical systems. In: Biological kinetics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 107–154
Hayakawa KI, Henig YS, Gilbert SG (1975) Formulae for predicting gas exchange of fresh produce in polymer film package. J Food Sci 40:186–191
Henig YS, Gilbert SG (1975) Computer analysis of the variables affecting respiration and quality in produce packaged in polymeric films. J Food Sci 40:1033–1035
Hill AV (1928) Diffusion of oxygen and lactic acid through tissues. Proc R Soc Biol Ser B 104:39–96
Hobson G, Burton KS (1989) The application of plastic film technology to the preservation of fresh horticultural produce. Prof Hort 3:20–23
Hulme AC (1951) Apparatus for the measurement of gaseous conditions inside apple fruits. J Exp Bot 2:65–85
Hulme AC (1956) Carbon dioxide injury and the presence of succinic acid in apples. Nature 178:218
Isenberg MFR (1979) Controlled atmosphere storage of vegetables. Hort Rev 1:337–394
Isherwood AC (1973) Starch-sugar interconversion in Solanum tuberosum. Phytochemistry 12:2579–2591
Jacobs MH (1967) Diffusion processes. Springer, New York
Jacobson BS, Smith B, Epstein S, Laties GG (1970) The prevalence of carbon-13 in respiratory carbon dioxide as an indicator of the type of endogenous substrate. J Gen Physiol 25:1–17
James WO (1953) Plant respiration. Oxford University Press, Oxford
Jost W (1960) Diffusion in solids, liquids and gases. Academic, New York
Jost W (1967) Physical chemistry, an advanced treatise, Eyring H, Henderson D, Jost W. (eds) Academic, New York
Jurin V, Karel M (1963) Studies on control of respiration of McIntosh apples by packaging methods. Food Technol 17:104–108
Kader AA (1980) Prevention of ripening in fruits by use of controlled atmospheres. Food Technol 34:51–54
Kader AA (1985) Modified atmospheres: an index reference list with emphasis on horticultural commodities. Post Harvest Hort Series 3(Supplement No. 4), University of California, Davis
Kader AA (1986) Biochemical and physiological basis for effects of controlled and modified atmospheres on fruits and vegetables. Food Technol 40:94–104
Kahl G (1974) Metabolism in plant storage tissue slices. Bot Rev 40:263–314
Kanellis AK, Solomos T, Roubelakis-Angelakis KA (1990) Suppression of cellulase and polygalacturonase and induction of alcohol dehydrogenase isoenzymes in avocado fruit mesocarp subjected to low oxygen stress. Plant Physiol 96:269–274
Kidd F, West C (1945) Respiratory activity and duration of life of apples. Plant Physiol 20:467–504
Klok EJ, Wilson IW, Wilson D, Chapman SC, Ewing RM, Somerville SC, Peacock WJ, Dolferus R, Dennis ES (2002) Expression profile analysis of the low-oxygen response in Arabidopsis root cultures. Plant Cell 14:2481–2494
Knee M (1980) Physiological responses of apple fruits to oxygen concentrations. Ann Appl Biol 96:243–253
Kuai J, Dilley DR (1992) Extraction, partial purification and characterization of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic oxidase from apple fruit. Postharvest Biol Technol 1:203–211
Lancaster P, Salkauskas K (1986) Curve and surface fitting. Academic, New York
Laties GG (1978) The development and control of respiratory pathways in slices of plant storage organs. In: Kahl G (ed) Biochemistry of wounded plant tissues. Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, pp 421–466
Laties GG (1982) The cyanide-resistant, alternative path in higher plant respiration. Annu Rev Plant Phys 33:519–555
Lipton WJ, Harris CM (1974) Controlled atmosphere effects for fresh vegetables and fruits: why and when. In: Haard NF, Salunke DK (eds) Postharvest biology and handling of fruits and vegetables, vol 2. AVI Publishing, Westport, CT
Liu FW, Long-Jum C (1986) Responses of daminozide-sprayed McIntosh apples to various concentrations of oxygen and ethylene in simulated CA storage. J Am Soc Hort Sci 111:400–403
Liu F, VanToai T, Moy LP, Bock G, Linford LD, Quackenbush J (2005) Global transcription profiling reveals comprehensive insights into hypoxic response in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol 137:1115–1129
Lougheed EC (1987) Interactions of oxygen, carbon dioxide, temperature and ethylene that may induce injuries in vegetables. HortScience 22:791–794
Lyons SM (1973) Chilling injuries in plants. Annu Rev Plant Physiol 24:445–446
Mannapperuma JD, Singh RP, Montero ME (1991) Simultaneous gas diffusion and chemical reaction in foods stored in modified atmospheres. J Food Eng 14:167–183
Mapson LW, Burton WG (1962) The terminal oxidases of potato tuber. Biochem J 82:19–25
Mapson LW, Robinson JE (1966) Relation between oxygen tension, biosynthesis of ethylene, respiration and ripening changes in banana fruit. J Food Technol 1:215–225
McMurchie EJ, McGlasson BW, Eaks JL (1972) Treatment of fruit with propylene gives information about the biogenesis of ethylene. Nature 237:235–236
Nakhasi S, Schlimme D, Solomos T (1991) Storage potential of tomatoes harvested at the breaker stage using modified atmosphere packaging. J Food Sci 55:55–59
Nobel PS (1983) Biophysical plant physiology. Freeman and Company, San Francisco
Quazi MH, Freebairn HT (1970) The influence of ethylene, oxygen and carbon dioxide on ripening of bananas. Bot Gaz 131:5–14
Saltveit ME (1989) A summary of requirements and recommendations for the controlled and modified atmosphere storage of harvested vegetables. In: Controlled Atmosphere Research Conference, Wenatchee, WA
Siedow JN (1982) The nature of cyanide-resistant pathway in plant mitochondria. Rec Adv Phytochem 16:47–84
Siripanich J, Kader AA (1985a) Effects of CO2 on total phenolics, phenyl-alanine ammonia lyase, and polyphenol oxidase in lettuce tissue. J Am Soc Hort Sci 110:249–253
Siripanich J, Kader AA (1985b) Effects of CO2 on cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase in relation to phenolic metabolism in lettuce tissue. J Am Soc Hort Sci 110:333–335
Siripanich J, Kader AA (1986) Changes in cytoplasmic and vacuolar pH in harvested lettuce tissue as influenced by CO2. J Am Soc Hort Sci 111:73–77
Smock RM (1979) Controlled atmosphere storage of fruits. Hort Rev 1:301–336
Solomos T (1977) Cyanide-resistant respiration in higher plants. Annu Rev Plant Physiol 28:279–297
Solomos T (1982) Effect of oxygen concentration on fruit respiration: nature of respiratory diminution. In: Richardson DG, Meheriuk M (eds) Controlled atmospheres for storage transport of perishable agricultural commodities. Timber Press, Beaverton, OR, pp 161–170
Solomos T (1987) Principles of gas exchange in bulky plant tissues. HortSci 22:766–771
Solomos T (1988) Respiration in senescing plant organs: its nature, regulation, and significance. In: Nooden LD, Leopold AC (eds) Senescence and aging in plants. Academic, New York
Solomos T (1989) A simple method for determining the diffusivity of ethylene in ‘McIntosh’ apples. Sci Hortic 39:311–318
Solomos T, Laties GG (1976) Effects of cyanide and ethylene on respiration of cyanide-sensitive and cyanide-resistant plant tissues. Plant Physiol 58:47–50
Storey KD, Storey JM (1990) Metabolic rate depression and biochemical adaptation in anaerobiosis, hibernation and estivation. Q Rev Biol 65:145–174
Theologis A, Laties GG (1978) Relative contribution of cytochrome-mediated and cyanide-resistant electron transport in fresh and aged potato slices. Plant Physiol 62:238–242
Trout SA, Hall EG, Robertson RN, Hackney FMV, Sykes SM (1942) Studies in the metabolism of apples: preliminary investigations on internal gas composition and its relation to changes in stored ‘Granny Smith’ apples. Aust J Exp Biol Med Sci 20:219–231
Tucker M, Laties GG (1985) The dual role of oxygen in avocado fruit respiration: kinetic analysis and computer modeling of diffusion-affected respiratory oxygen isotherms. Plant Cell Environ 8:117–127
Turner JS, Turner DH (1980) The regulation of glycolysis and pentose pathway. In: Davies DD (ed) The biochemistry of plants: a comprehensive treatise, vol 2. Academic, New York, pp 279–316
Uritani I, Asahi T (1980) Respiration and related metabolic activity in wounded and infected plant tissues. In: Davies DD (ed) The biochemistry of plants: a comprehensive treatise, vol 2. Academic, New York, pp 463–485
van Dongen JT, Fröhlich A, Ramirez-Aguillar SJ, Schauer N, Fernie AR, Erban A, Kopka J, Clark J, Langer A, Geigenberger P (2009) Transcript and metabolite profiling of the adaptive response to mild decreases in oxygen concentration in the roots of Arabidopsis plants. Ann Bot (Lond) 103:269–280
Waldraw CW, Leonard ER (1939) Studies on tropical fruits: IV. Methods in the investigation of respiration with special reference to banana. Ann Bot 3:27–42
Wiskich JT (1980) Control of the Krebs cycle. In: Davies DD (ed) The biochemistry of plants. A comprehensive treatise, vol 2. Academic, New York, pp 243–278
Woolley JT (1962) Potato tuber tissue respiration and ventilation. Plant Physiol 37:793–798
Yang CC, Chinnan MS (1987) Modeling of color development of tomatoes in modified atmosphere storage. Trans ASABE 30:548–553
Yang CC, Chinnan MS (1988a) Modeling of the effect of CO2 on respiration and quality of stored tomatoes. Trans ASABE 31:920–925
Yang CC, Chinnan MS (1988b) Computer modeling and color development of tomatoes stored in polymeric film. J Food Sci 53:869–872
Yang SF, Hoffman NE (1984) Ethylene biosynthesis and its regulation. Annu Rev Plant Physiol 35:155–189
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer Science+Business Media LLC
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Solomos, T. (2017). Aspects of the Biology and Physics Underlying Modified Atmosphere Packaging. In: Yildiz, F., Wiley, R. (eds) Minimally Processed Refrigerated Fruits and Vegetables. Food Engineering Series. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7018-6_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7018-6_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-7016-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-7018-6
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceChemistry and Material Science (R0)