Electrolyte Leakage and Ethylene Production Induced by Chilling Injury of Papayas

Papayas ( Carica papaya L.) were stored at 5° or 10°C for 1, 4, 7, 14, or 21 days. Chilling injury was detectable as visible skin discolorations after 4 days at 5°. Differences in electrolyte leakage and Hunter “L” values between fruit stored at 5° and 10° were not significant until after 7 days of storage. Fruit stored at 5° for more than 4 days also produced more ethylene upon transfer to warmer temperatures than did fruit stored at 10°. Differences in ethylene production between fruit stored under chilling temperatures, 5°, and nonchilling temperatures, 10°, increased with length of storage. Papayas chilled for 14 days at 5° retained a capacity to convert ACC to ethylene.