Stress-induced Ethanol Production in Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

Fresh fruits and vegetables produce ethanol when they are held in atmospheres containing low concentrations of oxygen. Ethanol concentrations in the headspace of fresh Brassica vegetables held 24 hours in nitrogen at 20°C ranged from 5 to 110 mmol·m –3 . The absence of oxygen induced anaerobic respiration and the production of ethanol in these vegetables. However, other stresses, including heat and high concentrations of carbon dioxide, can also stimulate the production of ethanol in fresh fruits and vegetables held in aerobic atmospheres. Fresh heads of broccoli dipped in 52°C water had increased concentrations of headspace ethanol 2 hours after treatment when held at 20°C in air. Concentrations were 6, 160, and 490 times greater in broccoli treated for 1, 2, or 3 minutes than in nontreated controls, respectively. Fruit of three highbush blueberry cultivars held in 25% carbon dioxide for 6 weeks at 0°C had 80 to 190 times more ethanol than fruit held in air. The 25% carbon dioxide atmosphere also induced blueberries to soften and develop off-flavors. Ethanol may be a fast and easy-to-measure indicator of physiological stress in stored fresh fruits and vegetables. Monitoring induced ethanol production could identify injurious storage environments or postharvest treatments. Possible mechanisms of stress-induced ethanol production will be discussed.