Articles
IS DELAY IN APPLICATION A FACTOR THAT REDUCES EFFICACY OF 1-METHYL-CYCLOPROPENE RESPONSE IN PEARS?
Article number
945_46
Pages
345 – 349
Language
English
Abstract
Williams pear (Pyrus communis L.) is the most important cultivar grown in Alto Valle of Rio Negro, Argentine. 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) proved to be highly effective in inhibiting ethylene action and maintaining postharvest quality.
However, due to logistical problems the commercial application of 1-MCP is often delayed, which may reduce the efficiency of this treatment.
In this study we determined the influence of 0.3 and 0.6 ml L-1 of 1-MCP applied after 0, 3, 7 and 10 days at 0°C on the post harvest quality of early and late harvested Williams pears.
Untreated fruit was used as control.
After 60 and 90 days of storage at -0.5°C, ethylene production and maturity indexes (flesh firmness, soluble solids, acidity, starch degradation, epidermis color), were measured.
The results showed that all 1-MCP treatments significantly reduced ethylene production and fruit ripening irrespective of the delay period.
The ethylene production of fruits was undetectable during the delay period at 0°C, meaning that ethylene was not affected by time at 0°C. Moreover, no differences were observed between 1-MCP concentrations, with 0.3 ml L-1 sufficient to reduce ethylene production and ripening even in late harvested fruits.
We hypothesize that the temperature during the delay period plays a key role on the maintenance or reduction of 1-MCP efficacy.
It is important to emphasize, that the results obtained under experimental conditions may not be directly extrapolated to a commercial-scale, since there are other factors that could reduce the effectiveness of 1-MCP treatments.
However, due to logistical problems the commercial application of 1-MCP is often delayed, which may reduce the efficiency of this treatment.
In this study we determined the influence of 0.3 and 0.6 ml L-1 of 1-MCP applied after 0, 3, 7 and 10 days at 0°C on the post harvest quality of early and late harvested Williams pears.
Untreated fruit was used as control.
After 60 and 90 days of storage at -0.5°C, ethylene production and maturity indexes (flesh firmness, soluble solids, acidity, starch degradation, epidermis color), were measured.
The results showed that all 1-MCP treatments significantly reduced ethylene production and fruit ripening irrespective of the delay period.
The ethylene production of fruits was undetectable during the delay period at 0°C, meaning that ethylene was not affected by time at 0°C. Moreover, no differences were observed between 1-MCP concentrations, with 0.3 ml L-1 sufficient to reduce ethylene production and ripening even in late harvested fruits.
We hypothesize that the temperature during the delay period plays a key role on the maintenance or reduction of 1-MCP efficacy.
It is important to emphasize, that the results obtained under experimental conditions may not be directly extrapolated to a commercial-scale, since there are other factors that could reduce the effectiveness of 1-MCP treatments.
Authors
G. Calvo , A.P. Candan
Keywords
pear, ethylene, maturity, 1-methylcyclopropene, concentration, timing
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