AgraCo Technologies International LLC Extend-A-Life Ethylene Removal
What is Ethylene? “Ethylene , unlike the rest of the plant hormone compounds is a gaseous hormone. Like abscisic acid, it is the only member of its class. Of all the known plant growth substance, ethylene has the simplest structure. It is produced in all higher plants and is usually associated with fruit ripening and the tripple response.” (Arteca, 1996; Mauseth, 1991; Raven, 1992; Salisbury and Ross, 1992).
What does Ethylene do? H 2 C=CH 2 As they approach maturity, many fruits (e.g., apples, oranges, avocados) release ethylene. Ethylene then promotes the ripening of the fruit. Commercial fruit growers can buy equipment to generate ethylene so that their harvest ripens quickly and uniformly. The presence of ethylene is detected by transmembrane receptors in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of the cells. Binding of ethylene to these receptors unleashes a signaling cascade that leads to activation of transcription factors and the turning on of gene transcription. The ill-fated FlavrSavr tomato contains an antisense transgene that interferes with the synthesis of ethylene and hence slows ripening. Ethylene also affects many other plant functions such as: abscission of leaves, fruits, and flower petals; • drooping of leaves; • sprouting of potato buds; • seed germination; • stem elongation in rice (by promoting the breakdown of abscisic acid (ABA) and thus relieving ABA's inhibition of gibberellic acid); • flower formation in some species. http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/E/Ethylene.html
Ethylene during flowering and fruit ripening Laser photo acoustic spectroscopy was used to continuously quantify the ethylene that is produced by strawberry flowers and fruit while they developed in planta . Source: Radbound University Nijmegen Life Science
Ethylene was first detected as flower buds opened and exhibited diurnal oscillations with peak production prior to petal abscission. After that C2H4 production fells to a low and relatively continuous level until fruit had entered the latter stages of being non-expanded and dark-green. Once fruit initiated red coloration, C2H4 release becomes elevated in a linear fashion (without diurnal fluctuations). Notice the increase in production as fruit ripens Source: Radbound University Nijmegen Life Science
Being a gas, ethylene can permeate through barriers like; corrugated cardboard, plastic containers, and natural barriers; cell walls, plasma walls. Ethylene Cell Wall Plasma Wall Ethylene Receptor When the ethylene Depending on which makes contact with the stage of the life cycle the ethylene receptors, a fruit is in, determines the reaction on the genetic reaction. level is started. Gene Gene Gene Ripening PR Proteins Senescence
Post-harvest losses of crops are estimated to be between 25 and 40% worldwide. Today, controlled atmosphere (CA) storage facilities are quite common, i.e. storage at lowered temperatures, low oxygen concentrations and elevated CO2 levels. Metabolic processes in CA-stored products, like fruits and vegetables, are slowed down and thus ripening and aging are delayed. Source: Radbound University Nijmegen Life Science The amount of food wasted in the US is staggering. The US generates more than 34 million tons of food waste each year. Paper is the only material category where we generate more waste, but we also recycle more. Food waste is more than 14 percent of the total municipal solid waste stream. Less than three percent of the 34 million tons of food waste generated in 2009 was recovered and recycled. The rest — 33 million tons — was thrown away. Food waste now represents the single largest component of MSW reaching landfills and incinerators. Source: US Department of Environmental Protection 2009 report
Food products make up 63 percent of a supermarket’s disposed waste stream, according to a California Integrated Waste Management Board industry study. That’s approximately 3,000 lbs. thrown away per employee every year. It is difficult to gauge quite how much waste —known as “shrink” in the industry's jargon — there is. Oliver Wyman, a consulting firm, puts the figure at 8-10% of total “perishable” goods in America. The Food Marketing Institute, an industry body, says such sales totaled $196 billion in 2006. That means food worth nearly $20 billion was dumped by retailers. In a report published on May 14th, the United Nations estimated that retailers and consumers in America throw away food worth $48 billion each year, and called upon governments everywhere to halve food wastage by 2025. The Economist – May 2008
Navy Recommendation for Extend-a-Life Filters IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND LIFE OF YOUR FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Filters – Something as simple as placing an Extend – a-Life ethylene removal filter your cold room can dramatically increase the quality and life of your fresh fruits and vegetables. There is no special instillation required. Just hang the filters in your cold room/ refrigerated shipping containers where air circulated through them. The filters are small (18”W x 5 ¾” long x 11/16” thick). As air circulates through the Extend-a-Life ethylene removal filters, they will absorb the ethylene gas given off by your fruits and vegetables. Ethylene absorption filters can be hung virtually anywhere in your refrigeration / cold storage system. The number of filters is based on square feet of the refrigerator. One Filter is required for every 100 square feet. The useful life of the filters is similar to the blankets at 45-90 days. The Extend-a-Life ethylene filters are made of metal mesh and can be disposed of at sea.
Navy Recommendation for Extend-a-Life Filters (continued) Background: The Navy is faced with the challenge of trying to extend the shelf life of FF&V on board ship in order to support the nutritional needs of its sailors. Spoilage of FF&V is a common problem caused by the release of ethylene gas, which is a natural by- product of the ripening process. Ethylene gas is a “growth regulator” that leads to degradation and reduced shelf life of FF&V as it is recycled through refrigerated shipboard storage spaces. Tests have shown that installing ethylene gas absorption devices (ethylene blankets or filters) in the walk-in refrigerators can significantly the shelf life of FF&V. When placed in the cold storage rooms or refrigerated shipping containers, the devices reduce spoilage and aging by absorbing the ethylene gas.
Highlights Ethylene is a natural occurring gaseous hormone given off by fruits, vegetables, and fresh cut flowers Climate control plays a large part in the delay of the ripening process The ripening process can not be stopped, but can be slowed Grocers, pickers, packers, transporters, and institutions (i.e. the US Navy) waste an extraordinarily large amount of produce each year. Filtering the ethylene out of the air prolongs the life of fruits, vegetables, and fresh cut flowers
What does this mean to you? Keeping fruits, vegetables and fresh cut flowers fresher longer means: A completive edge with better looking and better tasting product Increased customer satisfaction Increase in customer loyalty Decreased shrink due to spoilage Longer marketability of produce Increase in profitability Decreased ordering Reduced waste
AgraCo Technologies International LLC Extend-A-Life Ethylene Removal 220 South Second Street Dillsburg, PA 17019 717-502-0350 Fax 717-502-0353
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