Low-temperature storage elicits ethylene production in nonclimacteric lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) fruit

Lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonn) fruit were harvested at green, pink, and red developmental stages. The fruit of each group were used to determine developmentally and environmentally (chilling) regulated ethylene production. The rate of ethylene production in the fruit was green > pink > red. Storage at either 4 or 10 degrees C increased C2H4 production as much as 8.6-fold compared with control Fruit stored at 25 degrees C. The green fruit were most responsive to chilling in terms of ethylene production.