Effect of exogenous spermine on chilling injury and antioxidant defense system of immature vegetable soybean during cold storage

The effect of exogenous spermine on chilling injury (CI) and antioxidant defense system of immature vegetable soybean (Glycine max L.) during cold storage were investigated. Freshly harvested immature soybeans were treated with 0.8 mmol/L spermine at room temperature for 20 min and then stored at 5 ± 1 °C or 1 ± 1 °C and 85–95% relative humidity for up to 60 days. Results showed that exogenous spermine alleviated the CI, delayed the gradual decreasing activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, and maintained a favourable balance in reactive oxygen species levels at storage period. Although cold temperature (1 ± 1 °C) inhibited the synthesis of l-(malonylamino)-cyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid (MACC), raised ethylene production, and resulted in membrane damage, exogenous spermine obviously hindered the accumulation of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC). It was concluded that exogenous spermine alleviated CI of cold-stored immature soybeans through regulating the antioxidant system and ACC metabolism.