The cell membrane properties in relation to flesh browning of Fuyu persimmon fruits during CA storage were studied. Compared to intact fruits, the flesh tissue of browned fruits showed higher rate of electrolyte leakage, indicating incresed membrane permeability. It could be assumed that the increased membrane permeability results in 1eakage of phenolic compounds from vacuole and their oxidation by contacting with PPO, inducing finally the development of flesh browning. In addition, lower content of fatty acids and higher saturation rate of them were found in browned fruits. In conculusion, it was suggested that the inhibited fatty acid metabolism and fatty acid saturation during CA storage cause membrane Permeability to increase.

Ethylene was treated or inhibited to investigate its effect on the physiological changes related to induction of flesh browning in Fuyu persimmon fruit. The response of fruit to ethylene was so slight, that the Fuyu fruit seemed to possess a similar characteristic to non-climacteric fruit. The flesh browning was however enhanced by ethylene treatment, although any significant increment of phenolic content or PPO activity in flesh tissue was not detected. Ethylene induced not only increasing of ion leakage from fruit tissue, but the fatty acids extracted from ethylene-treated fruit tissue were also more saturated. It was suggested that ethylene be related in the changing of membrane permeablity via saturating of fatty acid in membrane lipid. That could result in increased leakage of vacuole-stored phenolic compounds, which oxidized further by PPO to cause fruit flesh to brown.