EFFECT OF METHYL JASMONATE ON REDUCING CHILLING INJURY SYMPTOM AND MAINTAINING POSTHARVEST QUALITY OF OKRA (HISBISCUS ESCULENTUS L.)

Effect of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) at 10^-2 M concentrations on physiological and biochemical changes in okra kept at 4°C was investigated. We found that weight loss in okra treated with 10-2 M MeJA was lower than untreated okra (control). The 10^-2 M MeJA treated okra showed slight changes of peel color in L, a, and Hue when compared with control treatment. Moreover, percentage of electrolyte leakage was also lower than untreated okra. Chilling injury (CI) score was determined by observing the chilling injury symptoms of okra to evaluate damage score. The results showed that MeJA untreated okra revealed 5% of CI symptoms at 4 days. Meanwhile, 10^-2 M MeJA treated okra showed 5% of CI symptom at 6 days of storage. Activity of lipoxygenase (LOX) was determined. The LOX enzyme is involved in senescence of membrane permeability and cell death. Okra treated with MeJA had lower LOX activity and malondialdehyde contents (MDA) than okra not treated with MeJA.