Storage of fresh-cut lettuce at light levels below the light compensation point increases sugar levels and greatly prolongs the shelf-life

The quality of fresh-cut butterhead lettuce held at 12°C was greatly improved when the product was stored under low levels of light, provided by either fluorescent tubes, or red, blue or green LEDs. Although the applied light level (5 μmol m -2 s -1 photosynthetically active radiation) was well below the light compensation point, significant accumulation of carbohydrates (sugars and starch) was observed. The level of carbohydrates positively correlated with the shelf-life. Photosynthetic activity was low and net photosynthesis during storage was negative and cannot account for the observed accumulation of carbohydrates. Treating the leaf pieces with an inhibitor of photosynthetic electron transport, 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU), diminished the light-induced sugar accumulation and the beneficial effect of light on fresh-cut quality. Currently, it is not clear which processes are responsible for the sugar accumulation in light-stored samples. We hypothesize that, under low light conditions, sugars may be produced through the processing of chloroplast degradation products in the glyoxysome, subsequent production of malate and oxaloacetate and production of glucose through reversal of the glycolysis pathway (gluconeogenesis).

[1]  E. Woltering,et al.  Low intensity monochromatic red, blue or green light increases the carbohydrate levels and substantially extends the shelf life of fresh-cut lettuce , 2015 .

[2]  E. Woltering,et al.  Storage of intact heads prior to processing limits the shelf-life of fresh-cut Lactuca sativa L. , 2014 .

[3]  Urban Wählby,et al.  Low-intensity light cycles improve the quality of lamb's lettuce (Valerianella olitoria [L.] Pollich) during storage at low temperature , 2014 .

[4]  E. Woltering,et al.  Plant Age Affects Wound-Induced Senescence in Lactuca Sativa L , 2014 .

[5]  J. Guiamet,et al.  Application of low intensity light pulses to delay postharvest senescence of Ocimum basilicum leaves , 2013 .

[6]  Govindjee,et al.  Photosystem II fluorescence lifetime imaging in avocado leaves: contributions of the lutein-epoxide and violaxanthin cycles to fluorescence quenching. , 2011, Journal of photochemistry and photobiology. B, Biology.

[7]  A. Allende,et al.  Low oxygen levels and light exposure affect quality of fresh-cut Romaine lettuce , 2011 .

[8]  F. Rolland,et al.  Sugar signalling and antioxidant network connections in plant cells , 2010, The FEBS journal.

[9]  F. Ayala,et al.  Evolution of quality characteristics of minimally processed asparagus during storage in different lighting conditions. , 2009, Journal of food science.

[10]  S. Nicola,et al.  Qualitative and physiological response of minimally processed garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) to harvest handling and storage conditions , 2009 .

[11]  H. Friedman,et al.  Increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and in senescence-associated gene transcript (SAG) levels during dark-induced senescence of Pelargonium cuttings, and the effect of gibberellic acid , 2006 .

[12]  A. Pardossi,et al.  Biochemical study of leaf browning in minimally processed leaves of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. acephala). , 2005, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[13]  Ana Belen Martin-Diana,et al.  Calcium lactate washing treatments for salad-cut Iceberg lettuce: Effect of temperature and concentration on quality retention parameters , 2005 .

[14]  Vicky Buchanan-Wollaston,et al.  Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals significant differences in gene expression and signalling pathways between developmental and dark/starvation-induced senescence in Arabidopsis. , 2005, The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology.

[15]  Ana Belen Martin-Diana,et al.  Effect of Heat Shock on Browning-Related Enzymes in Minimally Processed Iceberg Lettuce and Crude Extracts , 2005, Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry.

[16]  M. Saltveit.  Effect of 1-methylcyclopropene on phenylpropanoid metabolism, the accumulation of phenolic compounds, and browning of whole and fresh-cut ‘iceberg’ lettuce , 2004 .

[17]  M. Kar,et al.  Metabolism of activated oxygen in detached wheat and rye leaves and its relevance to the initiation of senescence , 1984, Planta.

[18]  I. Graham,et al.  The Gluconeogenic Enzyme Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase in Arabidopsis Is Essential for Seedling Establishment , 2003, Plant Physiology.

[19]  H. Hosoda,et al.  Effect of light quality on postharvest changes of chemical components in komatsuna (Brassica campestris L. var. komatsuna) leaves , 2000 .

[20]  W. Miller,et al.  Preventive mechanisms of gibberellin4+7 and light on low-temperature-induced leaf senescence in Lilium cv. Stargazer , 2000 .

[21]  M. Saltveit,et al.  Phenylalanine ammonia lyase inhibitors control browning of cut lettuce , 1998 .

[22]  R. Amasino,et al.  Making Sense of Senescence (Molecular Genetic Regulation and Manipulation of Leaf Senescence) , 1997, Plant physiology.

[23]  N. Smirnoff,et al.  Ascorbate metabolism in relation to oxidative stress. , 1996, Biochemical Society transactions.

[24]  S. Meir,et al.  Effect of wounding on ethylene biosynthesis and senescence of detached spinach leaves , 1991 .

[25]  M. Saltveit,et al.  Wound-induced ethylene production, phenolic metabolism and susceptibility to russet spotting in iceberg lettuce. , 1989 .

[26]  M. Saltveit,et al.  Plant hormone interaction and phenolic metabolism in the regulation of russet spotting in iceberg lettuce. , 1988, Plant physiology.

[27]  A. Kader,et al.  Systems for scoring quality of harvested lettuce , 1973 .