초록
The changesin hardness activities of pectinestrase and polygaacturonase and amounts of pectic substances of cucumber during salting at 1$0^{\circ}C$ were investigated, The hardness of the cucumber was decreased dramatically after 3 weeks whereas activities of pectinestrase and polygalacturonase were increased until 3 weeks and 2 weeks respectively and then decrea-sed. The level of alcohol insoluble solid and protopectin in the cucumber were decreased but those of pectic acid and water soluble pectin were increased during the whole salting periods, Protopectin fractionated from alcohol insoluble solid during salting of cucumber was separated using Sephacryl S-500 It showed that high average molecular weight(AMW) of 100,000 was decreased however lower molecular weight compounds was increased. Pectic acid was observed to be decomposed from AMW 200,000 to AMW 500,000 Water soluble pectin from fresh cucumber contained higher level of pentose with peak I of AMW 2,000,000, however after 6 weeks of saltinf peak II which represented AMW 100,000 was separated. From the changes of sugar composition, the phenomena of softness during the salting was probably caused by solubilization of hemicellulose associated with pectin and decomposition of pectic substances.