Studies on the extension of shelf-life of fresh fruits and vegetables, 8

This investigation was undertaken to examine the effect of packaging with polyethylene bag on incorporation of both 2-14C-mevalonic acid (MVA) and 2-14C-acetate into lipids and lycopene by tomato fruits. The results obtained were as follows:1. Radioactive mevalonic acid was incorporated into nonsaponifiable fraction by tomato fruits which had been injected with 2-14C-MVA at the stem scar with a hollow needle and syringe.2. When 2-14C-acetate was injected into fruit, although the total radioactivity incorporated into nonsaponifiable fraction increased with after-ripening of fruit, it was smaller than that of MVA.3. In the case of tomato fruits packaged air-tightly in polyethylene bag, the quantity of radioactive substances incorporated into nonsaponifiable fraction was smaller than that in unpackaged fruits, and the incorporation of 2-14C-MVA went down to 15%, 2-14C-acetate to 50%.4. The quantity of 2-14C-MVA and 2-14C-acetate incorporated into lycopene by fruit increased with the time elapsed, but it was small when fruits were packaged with polyethylene bag.