Inhibition ofPenicillium expansumPolygalacturonase Activity by Increased Apple Cell Wall Calcium

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Abstract
Apples were pressure infiltrated at harvest with solutions of CaCl2 and stored at 0 C. After 6 mo, fruit were removed from storage and cell walls were extracted and analyzed for Ca content. Polygalacturonase was purified from the decayed area of nontreated applies that had been inoculated with Penicillium expansum. Cell wall Ca content was positively correlated with the percent Ca used in the infiltration solutions. Extracted walls with varying Ca content were then used as a substrate for P. expansum polygalacturonase to test the effect of wall Ca on in vitro enzyme activity. Approximately 60% less product was formed when high Ca cell walls were used as substrate compared with low Ca cell walls. Since Ca is known to stablize the cell wall, decay in apples with high levels of Ca may be decreased because maceration by polygalacturonase is reduced.

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