Effects of hydrogen sulphide, nitric oxide and ethylene on postharvest deterioration of pak choy

Ethylene, hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) and nitric oxide (NO) are signaling molecules that affect plant metabolism. Postharvest fumigations with these gases have been shown to interfere with a range of factors associated with postharvest senescence. This study reports on postharvest studies with pak choy (<i>Brassica rapa</i> subsp. <i>chinensis</i>) that examined the effect of fumigation with hydrogen sulphide and nitric oxide and subsequent storage at 10°C in air with and without the addition of 0.1 µL L^-1 ethylene. The results showed that treatment with nitric oxide increased the shelf life and decreased respiration rates for the pak choy heads during the storage. However, fumigation with H₂S alone or in combination with NO resulted in greater inhibition of respiration rate and extension in market life, and this effect was more pronounced in the presence of 0.1 µL L^-1 ethylene.