Ultrastructural changes in the nectarine cell wall accompanying ripening and storage in a chilling-resistant and chilling-sensitive cultivar

Abstract Ripening of ‘Armking’ and ‘Fantasia’ nectarines at 20°C was characterised by rapid softening, extensive dissolution of the cell wall, and a high extractable juice content. After 4 weeks cold storage, cell walls of both cultivars had similar ultrastructure to that present at harvest. ‘Armking’ fruit still ripened normally after 4 weeks cold storage whereas ‘Fantasia’ fruit suffered abnormal textural changes associated with chilling injury, and had low extractable juice content. Ultrastructural observations support the hypothesis that changes in mechanisms of normal cell wall degradation are at least one component of the chiUing injury disorder.