Correlation of Blackhead Disease and Fruit Softening Index during Storage of Korla Pear

Objective:This experiment was aimed to discuss the correlation between blackhead disease and fruit softening during postharvest storage of Korla pear,so as to provide a theoretical basis for further research on the pathogenesis of blackhead disease in Korla pear. Methods:The fragrant pear fruit inoculated with the pathogen of blackhead disease was used as the experimental group(the healthy pear as the control group),and stored in the cold storage and the controlled atmosphere storage. At different storage stages,the contents of cellulose,pectin and cellulase and pectinase activities in pears under different storage conditions were determined,and the basic physical and chemical indexes related to fruit softening were determined. Results:Compared with the control group,the softening degree of the fruit inoculated with the pathogen was greater,and the firmness,soluble solids content,pectin content,crude fiber and lignin content of the pears were significantly low,in negative correlation to fruit softening;and the polygalacturonase and cellulase activity of the pears were significantly high,in positive correlation to fruit softening. Compared with the two storage conditions,the physical and chemical indexes of pears in the controlled atmosphere storage were better than those in cold storage. Meanwhile,the incidence of disease pear in controlled atmosphere storage lagged behind the cold storage. Conclusion:The disease of blackhead aggravates the softening of the Korla pears,and the rate of fruit onset was slow in the atmosphere storage and was more conducive to the storage and preservation of pears.