et al., 2000) fruits. ACC synthase is the rate-limiting enzyme of the ethylene biosynthetic
pathway and requires pyridoxal-5-phosphate as a cofactor. ACC synthase is inhibited by
pyridoxal phosphate inhibitors such as aminoethoxyvinylglycine and aminooxyacetic acid.
Field application of aminoethoxyvinylglycine as a growth regulator (retain, valent chemicals)
is a practical method of delaying the ripening in fruits such as apples, peaches, and
pears. As well, controlled atmosphere storage at very low oxygen levels (1–3%) is a common
practice in commercial operations for long-term storage of fruits such as apples to
reduce the production of ethylene, since oxygen is required for the conversion of ACC to
ethylene.
After the initiation of ripening or harvest, several biochemical changes occur in fruits
and vegetables. As some of these changes such as the development of color, flavor, and
sweet taste are desirable for fruits—any sort of quality changes are ideally not desired
in vegetables. Thus, strategies for the preservation of shelf life and quality in fruits and
vegetables could be entirely different. It is important to know the biochemical differences
between fruits and vegetables and several biochemical pathways that operate in these tissues
to develop ideal conditions of storage for the preservation of shelf life and quality.