Figure 8.

Schematic summary of the effect of storage temperature on the responses of parameters measured in the pericarp, columella or locular tissues of cherry tomato fruit. Fruit were stored at 12.5 °C or 2.5 °C, up to 3 weeks, or followed by storage at 20 °C (rewarming, ‘RW’). Trends of data (increase, decrease or no change), rather than magnitude changes are depicted, and were determined using freshly harvested fruit as the control. Fruit stored at 12.5 °C were compared against harvested breaker fruit so that the data reflected both chronologically and developmental differences. Except for CII and internal appearance, there were no PCI symptoms observed, therefore all other significant changes were related to ripening. PCI disrupts the normal progression of ripening. Comparing cold-stored (2.5 °C) fruit at each time point against harvested breaker fruit, informs on changes between fruit that are also chronologically different, but developmentally closer since cold suppresses maturation. In contrast to fruit at 12.5 °C, the array of changes associated with ripening was not obvious, and in addition, there were cold-injury responses. For the parameters where different tissues were analyzed, the manifestation of these traits could be described as contrapuntal, evidenced as heterogeneity and the decoupling of their response to cold compared to the control.