Polyphenol Oxidase, Peroxidase and Phenylalanine Ammonium Lyase Induced in Postharvest Peach Fruits by Inoculation with Pichia membranefaciens or Rhizopus stolonifer

Rhizopus rot of peach fruits could be significantly suppressed by Pichia membranefaciens.Polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD) and phenylalanine ammonium-lyase (PAL) activities inducedby inoculation with P. membranefaciens or R. stolonifer were studied in postharvest peach fruits. The activ-ities of PPO and PAL in peaches increased significantly after being inoculated with P. membranefaciens + R.stolonifer by 24 h, the activities maintained at a high level throughout the experiment. Under the condition ofinfected with R. stolonifer alone, activity of PPO and PAL could also increased, but the levels were lowerthan those treated with P. membranefaciens+ R. stolonifer. However, fruits inoculaed with P. membrane-faciens+ R. stolonifer or R. stolonifer alone did not stimulated POD activity. The results suggest that theactivation of these defense enzymes is involved in the action of P. membranefaciens against R. stolonifer.