The effect of β-galactosidase and polygalacturonase on peach ripening and softening

A peach cultivar Yuhua 3 was used to investigate the changes of ethylene production,the activity of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase at five different maturity by GC.The activity of β-galactosidase and polygalacturonase activity were also measured.Their effects on peach softening were discussed.Results showed that there was obvious ethylene peak during peach ripening.Change tendency of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase activities was consistent with ethylene.The peak of polygalacturonase activity and ethylene appeared simultaneously at maturity Ⅳ.While the activities of β-galactosidase were low in the more mature peach fruit and high in maturityⅠ.β-galactosidase was different from polygalacturonase and the effect of β-galactosidase on peach softening was mainly on earlier ripening stage.