The blockage of ethylene-dependent signaling may affect the quality of tropical fruit in a positive or negative way after cold storage. Hence, the role of ethylene on chilling injury in tangor 'Murcott' and the responses related to injuries resistance were the aims of this study. Fruit were treated for 12h with 500nL L-1 of 1 methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) or immersed into solutions containing 2000nL L-1 ethephon or salicylic acid for 5min before storage at 1°C for 90 days. As a control fruit were stored at 1°C. Chilling injury symptoms were anticipated and intensified when fruit were treated with ethephon or salicylic acid. On the other hand, the ethylene inhibition by 1-MCP delayed symptoms and resulted in the lowest injury index and percentage of fruit decay at the end of storage. At 45 days the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was intensified, however, in lower intensity in salicylic acid treated fruit. Afterwards, SOD activity decrease in all the treatments, though at 90 days the intensity was slightly superior to that at the initial 30 days of storage. During storage period it were not observed significantly alterations in putrescine (Put) and spermine (Spm) levels in flavedo tissues. In contrast, spermidine (Spm) levels were more affected by chilling stress.
1-methylcyclopropene; oxidative stress; polyamines
