The Effect of Respiration and Ethylene Production in the Postharvest life of Climacteric

Produce

Respiration is the process by which a commodity takes in oxygen that breaks down
carbohydrates into its constituent parts and yields carbon dioxide, water and energy to run its
cellular processes. On the other hand, ethylene is a hydrocarbon gas and is thought of as the
aging hormone in plants. Ethylene is responsible for the changes in texture, color, aroma and
other chemical reactions involved in ripening.

The postharvest life of a commodity has 4 stages; fruit expansion, maturation, ripening
and senescence. The rate of respiration and ethylene production of climacteric produce depends
on several factors such as storage temperature and carbon dioxide levels. Commodities with
higher rates of respiration tend to have shorter storage life than those with lower rates of
respiration.

Figure 1 illustrates that during fruit expansion stage ethylene production and respiration
rate is very low. When the fruit reached its maturation stage, it begins to produce more ethylene
and the respiration rate increases. During the ripening stage, there is a rapid increase in ethylene
production and respiration. After this stage, the produce is already ripe and has reached its
optimum development. During senescence stage the ethylene production and respiration
decreases and the fruit begins to deteriorate.

The senescence stage is like the discontinuity that is removable in the postharvest life of a
climacteric produce because this is the stage where in the fruit is rotten, very prone to microbial
attack and soon will not be available for consumption. For this discontinuity or phenomenon that
is naturally occurring in climacteric fruits to be avoided or removed, produce should be stored at
freezing temperatures, oxygen level should be constant at 20%, carbon dioxide levels should be
increase and ethylene inhibitors such as methyl bromide and 1-methylcyclopropene ( 1-MCP)
could be used.

The understanding about the processes and chemical reactions occurring throughout the
postharvest life of a commodity will give us an idea on how to prolong its shelf life and enhance
its quality, thus will make manufacturers and consumers economical in some ways.
 R a t e o f R e sp ir a t io n a n d E t h y le n e P r o d u c t io n
Fruit expansion Maturation Ripening Senescence
15
10
5
0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Time (days)

Figure 1 shows the relationship of the rate of respiration and ethylene production to the 4
stages of the postharvest life of climacteric produce

Source:
Adapted from: Silva, E. (2008). Respiration and ethylene and their relationship to postharvest
handling In Wholesale success: a farmer's guide to selling, postharvest handling, and packing
produce (Midwest edition). Available online at: http://www.familyfarmed.org/retail.html
(verified 3 March 2010).