Fresh keeping techniques for purple cabbage

The cold storage period of purple cabbage packaged with the respirat ory cling film may last 150 days at 2℃by dipping the root with 200×iprodione. Normal temperature storage and quick-freezing storage(-18℃) are not suitable for purple cabbage.

Genetic Model for Fresh-keeping Character in Sweet Corn

This study was conducted to investigate the genetic regularity of indexes related to freshness keeping and its molecular basis by acquiring 6 generations （P1, P2, F1, B1, B2 and F2） of an inbred line T3 with long freshness period × an inbred line T15 with short freshness period in sweet corn. The genetic analysis of the indexes was performed by major gene＋polygene mixed genetic model combined with the genetic analysis combining six generations.The results showed that the decreasing rate of the postharvest sugar content in the T3 was controlled by two pairs of additive-dominante-epistatic major genes＋additive-dominant polygenes; each segregating generation was affected by its major genes, the heritability of major genes and polygene in the B1 generation was 74.63% and 17.67%, respectively; the heritability of major gene and potygene in the B2 was 91.98% and 0,00%, respectively; and the heritability of major gene and polygene inthe F2 was 82.67%, and 12.93%, respectively.

Different Fresh-keeping Effects of Sugar, Aspirin and Vc on Cut Rose Flowers

[Objectives] This study was conducted to develop environmentally-friendly effective vase solutions for cut rose flowers convenient for ordinary household use. [Methods] The vase life, flowering stage, flower diameter variation, petal water content, and soluble protein and malondialdehyde contents were determined on cut rose flowers regularly during the vase period, to study the fresh-keeping effects of the vase solutions prepared from such three components as sugar, aspirin and Vc according to L9(33) orthogonal table design on cut rose flowers during the vase period. [Results] 20 g/L white granulated sugar+460 mg/L aspirin+50 mg/L Vc was the best combination in this study. [Conclusions] This study provides a reference for the research on the fresh-keeping vase solutions of household cut rose flowers.

Influence of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose edible coating on fresh-keeping and storability of tomato

The effect of application of cellulose-based edible coating, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) to mature-green tomatoes on the firmness and color was investigated. Tomatoes were stored at 20℃ for up to 18 days. Firmness decreased as storage time increased in all treatments. However, application of HPMC edible coating delayed softening of tomatoes during 18 days of storage at 20℃ . At days 7, 13 and 18,the firmness of tomatoes coated with HPMC was significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) greater than the firmness of uncoated tomatoes. The study also confirmed that HPMC coatings could significantly (P≤0.05) delay the changes in color of tomatoes stored at 20℃ . The ripening of tomatoes from the pink stage to the red stage was successfully retarded. HPMC coating could extend the shelf life of fresh tomatoes. The retardation of the rate of loss of firmness could reduce the economic loss that would result from spoilage by mechanical injury during transportation of tomatoes.

Effects of Exogenous Calcium on Some Postharvest Characteristics of Cut Gladiolus

In order to apply calcium to the vase solutions of cut gladiolus （Gladiolus hybridus）, the vase life and some physiological characteristics were studied in this article. A gladiolus cultivar, Mascagni, was chosen for experiments, and its cut flowers were held into solutions, which contained calcium acetate, ethylene glycol bis-amino tetmacetate （EGTA）, and water, respectively. The effects of calcium were probed by measuring the ornamental quality of cut gladiolus and the physiological characteristics such as calmodulin （CAM）, abscisic acid （ABA）, gibberellins （GA）, zeatin （ZRs）, endogenous calcium, malondialdehyde （MDA）, and soluble sugar in florets. In a solution of 2 mmol L-1 calcium acetate, the opening rate of cut gladiolus was higher than that of control, and the vase life and ornamental value of flowers were better than that in control and other treatments of calcium acetate. Thus, the solution of 2 mmol L^-1 calcium acetate has the best effect on the fresh keeping of cut gladiolus. In petals and bracts of cut gladiolus, the contents of CaM and GA and the ratios of GA/ABA and ZRs/ABA were higher in treatment of 2 mmol L^-1 calcium acetate than that in control, while the contents of ABA and MDA were lower. Compared with the control, the solution of 2 mmol L^-1 calcium acetate increased the endogenous calcium contents, and decreased the MDA contents, and alleviated the effects of EGTA on CaM, GA, GA/ABA, and ZRs/ABA. It made the soluble sugar content higher in petals than the control, but lower in bracts. Thus, the solution of 2 mmol L^-1 calcium acetate not only stabilizes the membrane structure of cut gladiolus, but also activates CaM. It thereby controls the endogenous hormone levels, and transports soluble sugar into petals, and increases the vase life of the flower.