Effect of methyl jasmonate on energy metabolism in peach fruit during chilling stress.

Background: Energy status is associated with ripening, senescence and physiological disorder of various types of fruit after harvest, including peaches. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) was effective in enhancing chilling tolerance in cold-stored peach fruit. The effect of MeJA on energy metabolism in peach fruit was investigated.

Results: MeJA treatment increased the contents of adenosine triphosphate and adenosine diphosphate, but decreased the content of adenosine monophosphate, which resulted in a higher level of energy charge in peach fruit. Enzyme activities including H+-adenosine triphosphatase, Ca2+-adenosine triphosphatase, succinic dehydrogenase and cytochrome c oxidase were also higher in MeJA-treated fruit than those in control fruit. Meanwhile, MeJA treatment markedly inhibited the increase of ion leakage and the accumulation of malondialdehyde, super-oxidant radical and hydrogen peroxide.

Conclusions: These results indicated that MeJA could enhance chilling tolerance of peach fruit by inducing enzyme activities related to energy metabolism and maintaining high levels of ATP and energy charge.