Abstract:

The effects of oleocellosis induced by orange oil on the structural materials of Navel orange peel tissue were
studied based on collapse index, color index, cell membrane and cell wall-related index. Results showed that the oil
treatment could induce oleocellosis on Navel orange and the disease was more notable as the storage time was prolonged.
Orange oil could result in a rise in lipoxygenase (LOX) activity and superoxide anion production rate of peel tissue, in
turn accelerating the degradation of the cell membrane, increasing dramatically the cell membrane permeability and the
content of malondialdehyde (MDA). During the early storage period, the contents of cell wall-related materials such as
lignin and cellulose of the oil-treated peel tissue increased quickly and the activities of pectin methylesterase (PME) and
polygalacturonase (PG) were inhibited. Thus, the cell wall could be thickened to some degree. This study can provide a
theoretical reference for exploring the mechanisms and control strategies of oleocellosis.

Key words: citrus, oleocellosis, oil treatment, cell membrane, cell wall