Effect of Physical Damage on Food Spoilage

Physical damages on food items is caused through wounds, Stress conditions such as water stress, nutrimental stresses etc., extreme conditions like high temperature, low temperature, pathogen and pest attacks, chemicals and radiation.

Ethylene is the ripening hormone also called as senescence hormone. Ethylene concentration is pronouncedly increased during the ripening stage of climacteric fruits. Ethylene causes fruit ripening as well as aging or senescence and eventually deterioration. Due to the stress conditions Ethylene is produced hence deterioration may occur. Hence through physical injuries the production of ethylene is rapidly increased. When a fruit or a crop is ripen its amount of nutritional components available for microbes are increased. Hence a ripe fruit or crop is highly prone to damage by microorganisms. Thus physical damage to food items indirectly causes food spoilage.

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