Physiological, hormonal and molecular mechanisms regulating chilling injury in horticultural species. Postharvest technologies applied to reduce its impact

The storage of fruits and vegetables at low temperature near the freezing point is the foremost technology applied to retard postharvest ripening and to extend the shelf-life period of agricultural products. However, most tropical and subtropical produce is sensitive to chilling injury, which constitutes a set of physiological alterations caused by exposure to low temperatures for variable time periods, to the detriment of quality. This article is a thorough review of the physiological, hormonal and molecular mechanisms involved in the induction and development of this physiopathy. Also, the different postharvest technologies of a chemical, physical or biotechnological nature assayed In research or applied in the agro-food industry with the aim of inhibiting or delaying the emergence of chilling injury in sensitive plant produce of agricultural interest are reviewed. (C) 2009 Society of Chemical Industry