METHODS FOR STUDY OF RIPENING AND PROTEIN SYNTHESIS IN INTACT POME FRUITS

Techniques were developed to utilize intact apple and pear fruits to simultaneously study the dynamic cellular processes attending ripening such as cell-wall softening, chlorophyll degradation, respiration, and protein, RNA and ethylene synthesis. Solution infiltration procedures employing mannitol as a carrier solution for administering protein and nucleic acid precursors and metabolic inhibitors provided a means of investigating various aspects of ripening in an integrated manner. Specific details for employing fresh fruit extracts and acetone-dried powders of apple and pear fruits (as a source of proteins) for electrophoretic studies in relation to fruit ripening are discussed. © 1969.