The change of ethylene production rate was shown in
Fig. 4-C and D. After ethylene treatment, the ethylene
production of banana and plantain stored in air increased
rapidly. The ethylene production of both cultivars was lower
in the 20% CO
treatment than in air. However, the ethylene
production of plantain in 20% CO
2
started to increase after
3 d and reached the peak value of 4.470 µL h
2
FW on
4 d which was 2.3 times higher than the initial value.
–1
kg
The mRNA level of ACS, a key ethylene biosynthesis
gene, in the peel of bananas and plantains started to increase
in both the control and the treated fruits (Fig.
4-E).
Compared to the controls, the expression was slightly
reduced by 20% CO
soon after the ethylene treatment in
bananas, and the reduction became more obviously from
3 to 5 d, at the time points around the respiration peak. In
the plantains, the expression of ACS was obviously reduced
2
–1