Early physiological and antioxidant responses of amla (Phyllanthus emblica L.) to short-term CO2 exposure
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is widely used in post-harvest storage systems, yet the immediate biochemical responses of fruit tissues to short-term exposure remain poorly understood. This study investigated the early physiological and biochemical responses of amla (Phyllanthus emblica L.) fruit following brief and elevated CO2 exposure. Whole fruits were treated with 5 kPa CO2 for 5, 10, and 15 minutes, after which biochemical, antioxidant, and structural parameters were evaluated. Ascorbic acid content increased from 370.83 to 427.23 mg/100 g after 5 minutes of CO2 exposure and further increased to 458.00 mg/100 g after 15 minutes. Radical scavenging activity increased from 37.89% in the control to 74.35% after 5 minutes of exposure. Total phenolic content exhibited a transient increase, whereas carbohydrate content showed an initial decline followed by partial recovery. Short-term CO2 exposure also induced transient increases in hydrogen peroxide levels and ascorbate peroxidase activity. Microscopic analysis revealed apparent cellular swelling, while moisture content, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy spectral profiles, and Commission Internationale de l'Éclairage colour parameters remained largely unchanged following short-term CO2 exposure. The findings suggest that short-term CO2 exposure elicits antioxidant-related biochemical responses in amla fruit while producing only minor changes in the measured physicochemical attributes.
Pallavi JK, Taarana K, Murtaza S. Early physiological and antioxidant responses of amla (Phyllanthus emblica L.) to short-term CO2 exposure. J Appl Biol Biotech 2026. Article in Press. http://doi.org/10.7324/jabb.2026.322855
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