Nitric Oxide Ripening Control for Longer Produce Shelf Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for extending the shelf life of agricultural produce, particularly fruits and vegetables, face challenges such as high cost, side effects, and inefficiency in completely shutting off ethylene production, often leading to spoilage and short shelf life due to natural ripening processes.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of a nitrite source and a hypoxia-inducing source to generate nitric oxide (NO) endogenously from plant materials, such as fresh leaves, to delay ripening by exposing agricultural produce to naturally produced NO under hypoxic conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If chemical NO donors (e.g., sodium nitroprusside, GSNO) are used to extend shelf life, then ethylene production is inhibited and shelf life is extended, but cost increases and toxic side effects occur
Solution Approach 1:
The plant material itself serves as the source of NO production. The leaves contain endogenous nitrite stores that can be activated to produce NO without requiring external chemical donors. The plant material essentially serves itself by using its own resources (nitrite stores in leaves) to achieve the desired effect of delaying ripening.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and utilizes the endogenous nitrite stores already present in the plant material's leaves. Instead of introducing external chemical NO donors, the method extracts the naturally occurring nitrite from the plant's own tissues and activates it to produce NO, thereby eliminating the need for expensive and toxic chemical additives.
2Duration of action of moving object
If chemical NO donors are applied to inhibit ethylene production, then ripening is delayed, but the method is expensive and produces toxic gaseous compounds
Solution Approach 1:
The plant material utilizes its own endogenous nitrite stores to produce NO, eliminating the need for external chemical donors that generate toxic byproducts. The system is self-sufficient, using the plant's natural biochemical resources to achieve ripening delay without introducing harmful substances.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the potentially harmful aspect of high NO concentration (which can cause tyrosine nitration and damage defense systems) into a benefit by using controlled, endogenous NO production. The natural regulation mechanisms of the plant ensure NO is produced at appropriate levels without causing damage, while still achieving effective ethylene inhibition.
3Reliability
If high concentration of chemical NO is applied, then ethylene pathway is blocked effectively, but health complications occur to personnel and defense system is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the parameter of NO source from external chemical donors to endogenous plant material. This parameter change naturally regulates NO concentration levels, preventing both insufficient ethylene inhibition and excessive NO that would cause tyrosine nitration and health complications. The plant's own biochemical regulation ensures safe and effective NO levels.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method effectively delays ripening and increases the shelf life of fruits and vegetables without chemical side effects, providing a safe, economical, and controlled release of NO, enhancing natural defense mechanisms and extending longevity.
Implementation Method 1
providing at least one hypoxia-inducing source to the plant material to generate hypoxic conditions, to enable the production of nitric oxide in presence of the nitrite source
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present disclosure discloses a method for delaying ripening in an agricultural produce, said method comprises: (a) contacting a plant material with a nitrite source; (b) providing at least one hypoxia-inducing source to the plant material to enable the production of nitric oxide in presence of the nitrite source; and (c) exposing an agricultural produce to nitric oxide produced in step (b) for delaying ripening in the agricultural produce. The method as described herein is beneficial in increasing the shelf-life of an agricultural produce.