Effects of Ethylene on Respiration, Ethylene Production and Ripening of Japanese Persimmon Fruit Harvested at Different Stages of Development

Abstract

The effects of 10ppm ethylene treatment on the respiratory rate, ethylene evolution and ripening of Japanese persimmon (Diospiros kaki Thunb. cv. Fuyu) fruits harvested at different stages of development during from June to November were investigated at 25°C.
1. The ethylene treatment was applied continuously for 1, 2 and 3 days begining 1 day after harvest at each stage.
All treatments stimulated respiration, and induced ethylene production and softening of fruits regardless of their stages.
The treatment was more effective for the fruits at stage I than at stage III.
It seemed that the sensitivity of fruit to ethylene decreased as the fruit matured.
The rate of ethylene evolution at the climacteric (or climacteric-like) peak induced by ethylene treatment declined rapidly as the fruit matured.
The fruit treated with ethylene softened more rapidly than the untreated fruit.
2. When 1-day treatments with ethylene were repeated every other day on the fruit harvested at stage III, the fruit showed some response to the first 2 to 3 treatments, but responded little to the subsequent treatments.
3. In view of its characteristics mentioned above, Japanese persimmon fruit was considered to be a type of fruit which differed from both climacteric and non-climacteric fruits.