Module 3: Biological Aspects of Postharvest Handling true or false

This flashcard set covers the biological and physiological aspects of postharvest handling, including respiration, transpiration, ethylene production, and the various causes of postharvest losses.

A. Water Content of Harvested Crops

Living plant parts like fruits, vegetables, and root crops contain between $65$ to $95$ percent water, and their postharvest life depends on their rate of water loss.

B. Respiration

The process by which plants take in oxygen and give out carbon dioxide, facilitating the breakdown of reserved food into $CO\_{2}$, water, and energy in the form of $38 \text{ ATP}$ with a release of heat.

C. Ethylene ($C\_{2}H\_{4}$)

A colorless and odorless plant hormone produced by all plant tissues, regarded as the ripening or senescence hormone.

D. Shelf Life and Respiration Relationship

Shelf life is inversely proportional to the respiration rate of a produce; highly respiring commodities deteriorate faster than lowly respiring ones.

True or False: Ethylene is known as the ripening hormone in plants.

True

True or False: Shelf life is directly proportional to the respiration rate of produce.

False