Effect of cold-shock treatment on chilling injury in mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. 'Wacheng') fruit

To investigate how cold shock may affect chilling injury in mango fruit (Mangifera indica L. cv. 'Wacheng'), the fruit were treated for 3, 4 or 5 h at 0 °C, or treated for 8, 10 or 12 h at 4 °C, respectively, then transferred to 20 °C for 20 h prior to being stored at 2 °C, 85-95% RH. The chilling injury index of mango treated at 0 °C for 4 h was 59.7% lower than that of the control fruit directly stored at 2 °C, 85-95% RH. Some attributes were assayed in the fruit treated at 0 °C for 4 h. Ion leakage of the cold-shock fruit at 0 °C for 4 h was 16% or 10% lower than that of the control on day 9 or day 12 of storage, respectively. Malondialdehyde content of the cold-shocked fruit was 70% or 50% lower than that of the control on day 6 or day 12 of storage at 2 °C, respectively. Activities of catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and contents of glutathione and phenolic compounds in the fruit during storage were all markedly enhanced by the cold-shock treatment, whereas activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and content of ascorbic acid in the mango were slightly influenced by the cold-shock treatment. These results suggest that cold-shock treatment may hold promise as an alternative approach to reduce chilling injury in mango fruit during cold storage.