Effects of UV-C Treatment on the Quality of Bamboo Shoots (Phyllostachys prominens) during Cold Storage

To evaluate the effects of UV-C treatment on lignification and quality of bamboo shoots (Phyllostachys prominens) during postharvest, the peeled bamboo shoots were irradiated with UV-C at dose of 4.0 kJ·m^-2 and then stored at (6±1)℃ along with 85~90% RH for 15 d, and the flesh firmness, respiratory rate, weight loss, disease incidence, contents of cellulose, lignin, activities of 4-coumarate CoA ligase (4CL), peroxidase (POD), cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) were determined. The results showed that UV-C treatment apparently (p<0.05) inhibited wound browning, slowed down the increase rates of flesh firmness, respiratory rate, weight loss, disease incidence, and contents of cellulose and lignin, and also significantly (p<0.05) decreased the activities of 4-coumarate CoA ligase (4CL), peroxidase (POD), cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) during cold storage. This research suggested that these effects of UV-C treatment on decreases in these enzymatic activity might collectively inhibit lignin synthesis and accumulation in peeled bamboo shoots, and consequently delay the lignification process for maintaining edible quality of bamboo shoots during cold storage.