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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Isolation and Biophysical Study of Fruit Cuticles
Published on: March 30, 2012
Vibration-Induced Texture Deterioration in Kiwifruit: Molecular Mechanisms and Modulation by 1-MCP-Mediated Pectin
Haishan Xu1, Yiyang Li1, Haiying Yang1
1College of Food Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China.
None:
Vibration stress during transportation represents a mechanical factor that accelerates texture deterioration. This study revealed the molecular basis underlying vibration-induced texture deterioration in kiwifruit and further evaluated 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) as an intervention. The results showed vibration accelerated pectin solubilization and nanostructural disassembly, whereas 1-MCP treatment better preserved pectin integrity with higher chelate-soluble pectin and sodium-carbonate-soluble pectin levels under vibration stress. Transcript analysis indicated that vibration induced elevated expression of pectin-degrading and -modifying genes, including polygalacturonase (PG) (Actinidia28962), β-galactosidase (Actinidia15368), and pectin methylesterase (PME) (Actinidia13568), whereas 1-MCP treatment downregulated these genes. Molecular docking indicated favorable binding poses of demethylesterified GalA oligomers with PME and higher-degree of polymerization GalA oligomers with PG, providing auxiliary insight into vibration-related pectin de-esterification and depolymerization. Therefore, this study provides a multilevel molecular explanation for vibration-induced texture deterioration from the perspective of pectin composition and structure and proposes a feasible strategy to delay texture loss under vibration stress.
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