Senescence

Senescence is the degeneration of plants due to maturation or ageing. Leaves yellow, tissues soften, and metabolic activity winds down; stress from disease or insect attack may induce early senescence. In harvested produce, senescence is essentially the slide from ripeness toward spoilage, and post-harvest technology such as cooling and controlled atmospheres slows it down. Managing senescence is central to extending shelf life. Cooling and controlled atmospheres buy valuable time. Every extra day of freshness counts. Post-harvest science fights it daily.