Physiological analysis on long shelf-life in ripening mutants (rin, nor, alc) tomato and their F1

English abstract: \nChanges in respiration, ethylene production, PG activity and firmness during ripening period were monitored in fruits of the 'alcobaca', 'nor', 'rin' mutants and those of normal tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) In fruits of mutants (alc, nor, rin) no respiratory or ethylene climacteric was observed. Firmness declined very slowly with only trace levels of Polygalacturonasc (PG) in mature fruits. They showed a 400% increase in storability compared to normal cult. 524 with a mean storage life of 90-120 days. Ripening of fruits from heterozygous (nor/+), (alc/+), (rin/+) F1 plants was delayed. The respiratory climacteric was partially suppressed and delayed (5-7 days). Peak ethylene production was 45%-65% of that in normal fruits. Fruits harvested at the mature green may reached red colour.