Activity of β-Galactosidase and Polygalacturonase in Zucchini Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) Stored at Low Temperatures

Abstract

When fruits are exposed to chilling temperatures, enzymatic systems are affected and normal cell metabolism is altered; cell wall enzymes are the least studied in this respect. Our objective is to determine the effect of storage temperature and/or kind of tissue on the activity of the enzymes polygalacturonase (PG) and β-galactosidase (β-gal) in zucchini squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) subjected to 2.5 and/or 12 °C for 16 days. Exocarp and endocarp samples were analyzed every 4 days for PG and β-gal activities. The highest β-gal activity was found in the exocarp at 12 °C; in both tissues β-gal decreased with time at 2.5 °C, but increased at 12 °C. PG activity was higher in the endocarp (highest activity at 2.5 °C) than in the exocarp (highest activity at 12 °C). It was concluded that PG activity in the exocarp constitutes an adequate system for studying the relationship between chilling injury and cell wall biological activity.

Keywords

• chilling injury
• cold signaling
• oligosaccharins
• cell wall