A Consideration on the Chilling Injury Mechanism from the Aspect of Molecular Species of Phosphatidylcholine in Apples cv. Fuji.

Studies on Chilling Injury of Apples, part XI

Abstract

To clarify the chilling injury mechanism of apples the molecular species of phosphatidyl-choline in apples cv. Fuji were examined by means of argentation thin layer and gas-liquid chromatographies. The results obtained were as follows: 1) In the case of a sample just after harvest, the bands of phosphatidylcholine with 100% or near 100% of unsaturated fatty acid composition were found by the above50%. The above facts seem to be one of the reasons why chilling injury does not occur in the apples cv. Fuji. 2) Furthermore, in the case of samples after 5, 7 and 9 months storage at 0°C, the bands with over 80% of unsaturated fatty acidcomposition were detected. This fact seems to be one of the reasons why the apples cv. Fuji do not show chilling injury and therefore are suitable for cold storage. 3) The kinds of molecular species of phosphatidylcholine in the apples cv. Fuji decreased after cold storage for seven months.