Chemical-physical characterization of isolated plant cuticles subjected to low-dose γ-irradiation

Isolated tomato fruit cuticles were subjected to low dose (80 Gy) γ-irradiation, as a potential methodology to prevent harvested fruit and vegetables spoilage. Both irradiated and non-irradiated samples have been morphologically and chemically characterized by scanning electron (SEM), atomic force...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Heredia Guerrero, José A., Lara, Rocio de, Dominguez, Eva, Heredia, Antonio, Benavente, Juana, Benítez Jiménez, José Jesús
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión enviada para evaluación y publicación
Fecha de publicación:2012
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/70864
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/70864
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2012.10.003
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:De-waxing effect
Gamma-irradiation
Plant cuticle
Descripción
Sumario:Isolated tomato fruit cuticles were subjected to low dose (80 Gy) γ-irradiation, as a potential methodology to prevent harvested fruit and vegetables spoilage. Both irradiated and non-irradiated samples have been morphologically and chemically characterized by scanning electron (SEM), atomic force (AFM), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopies. Additionally, electrochemical measurements comprising membrane potential and diffusive permeability were carried out to detect modifications in transport properties of the cuticle as the fruit primary protective membrane. It has been found that low dose γ-irradiation causes some textural changes on the surface but no significant chemical modification. Texture modification is found to be due to a partial removal of outermost (epicuticular) waxes which is accompanied by mild changes of electrochemical parameters such as the membrane fixed charge, cation transport number and salt permeability. The modification of such parameters indicates a slight reduction of the barrier properties of the cuticle upon low dose γ-irradiation. Â