Question

Briefly explain about degreening in fruits.

Hint:

Note: Degreening is mainly used for commercial citrus fruit marketing.

Answer 1

The process of degreening involves a post-harvest treatment designed to eliminate the green hue (chlorophyll) from fruits, thereby increasing their commercial attractiveness.
This practice is frequently applied to fruits such as citrus varieties (e.g., oranges, lemons) and bananas, which may retain green areas even when fully ripe.
During degreening, fruits are subjected to low concentrations of ethylene gas under meticulously controlled temperature and humidity levels.
Ethylene acts to expedite the degradation of chlorophyll and promote the development of the fruit peel's inherent yellow or orange coloration.
Effective degreening maintains the internal quality of the fruit while rendering its exterior more appealing to consumers.
Rigorous management of temperature and ventilation is essential to prevent premature over-ripening or spoilage during the treatment.