Nowadays companies develop novel films that help increase the shelf life of fruits and vegetables.

Question

Explain how it helps in increasing the shelf life of fruits and vegetables based on membrane transport.

Answer 1

There are two categories of cross membrane transport, active and passive. While active transport requires energy, passive transport relies on concentration differences inside and outside of the membrane. With films that cover the outermost membrane of the fruit (the skin), this concentration gradient can be removed or slowed so membrane transport is also slowed and as a result, the fruit stays fresh longer. A good analogy for this is considering evaporation in an open jar on a hot day versus if there was a lid on the jar. Both jars would be in the same conditions, but the jar with the lid would retain more water.