Gamma radiation control quality and lignification of bamboo shoots (Phyllostachys praecox f. prevernalis.) stored at low temperature

•Quality loss of bamboo shoots was controlled by 0.5 kGy gamma radiation.•Gamma radiation inhibited cellulose and lignin contents increase of bamboo shoots.•Gamma radiation inhibited activities of PAL, CAD, and POD.•Gamma radiation reduced ethylene production by retarding ACS and ACO activities.

Bamboo shoots are highly nutritious but possess poor shelf life after harvest due to rapid decline of tenderness mostly result from lignification processes. Present investigation was performed to evaluate the potential of gamma radiation as a postharvest technology to preserve bamboo shoots. The effects of 0.5 kGy gamma radiation on quality and lignification of bamboo shoots during storage at 2 °C were investigated. The results showed that gamma radiation reduced the decay rate of bamboo shoots by 71% at the end of storage. It also significantly retarded ethylene production through controlling the activities of ACC synthase (ACS) and ACC oxidase (ACO), which may contribute to inhibition of lignin synthesis. Meanwhile, gamma radiation decreased the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) and peroxidase (POD), which are associated with lignin accumulation, thus reduced lignin content by 12.5% than that of the control after twenty-eight days of storage. These results demonstrated the potential of the gamma radiation as a promising postharvest technique to maintain the quality and inhibit the lignification of bamboo shoots.

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