Fruits kept in refrigerator maintain their flavour and taste for longer perioid due to

Options

A. Nonavailability of oxygen
B. Presence of excess `CO_(2)`
C. Presence of excess moisture
D. Slowing down of respiration

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Respiration in Fruits:**
- Fruits undergo a process called respiration, where they consume oxygen and release carbon dioxide. This process is essential for their metabolism and affects their flavor and freshness.

2. **Impact of Temperature on Respiration:**
- Storing fruits at lower temperatures, such as in a refrigerator, significantly slows down the rate of respiration. This is because colder temperatures reduce the metabolic activity of the fruits.

3. **Role of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide:**
- In addition to lowering the temperature, the concentration of gases around the fruits can also affect respiration. Lowering the oxygen levels and increasing carbon dioxide levels can further slow down respiration.

4. **Result of Slowed Respiration:**
- When respiration is slowed, the fruits use their stored energy more slowly, which helps in maintaining their flavor and taste for a longer period. This is because the degradation of flavor compounds is also slowed down.

5. **Conclusion:**
- Therefore, the primary reason fruits kept in a refrigerator maintain their flavor and taste for a longer period is due to the slowing down of respiration.

**Final Answer:**
Fruits kept in refrigerator maintain their flavor and taste for longer period due to slowing down of respiration.

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