Abstract

1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) is an inhibitor of ethylene perception that is widely used to maintain the quality of several climacteric fruits during storage. A large body of literature now exists on the effects of 1-MCP on climacteric fruit ripening for different species and environmental conditions, presenting an opportunity to use meta-analysis to systematically dissect these effects. We classified 44 ripening indicators of climacteric fruits into five categories: physiology and biochemistry, quality, enzyme activity, color, and volatiles. Meta-analysis showed that 1-MCP treatment reduced 20 of the 44 indicators by a minimum of 22% and increased 6 indicators by at least 20%. These effects were associated with positive effects on delaying ripening and maintaining quality. Of the seven moderating variables, species, 1-MCP concentration, storage temperature and time had substantial impacts on the responses of fruit to 1-MCP treatment. Fruits from different species varied in their responses to 1-MCP, with the most pronounced responses observed in rosaceous fruits, especially apple, European pear fruits, and tropical fruits. The effect of gaseous 1-MCP was optimal at 1 μl/l, with a treatment time of 12–24 h, when the storage temperature was 0 °C for temperate fruits or 20 °C for tropical fruits, and when the shelf temperature was 20 °C, reflecting the majority of experimental approaches. These findings will help improve the efficacy of 1-MCP application during the storage of climacteric fruits, reduce fruit quality losses and increase commercial value.

Highlights

  • Fruits are stored to maintain fresh quality and extend their shelf life, thereby reducing the loss of commercial value associated with high metabolic rates and disease susceptibility

  • This study set out to answer the following questions: What is the collective impact of 1MCP treatments on climacteric fruits? How do specific experimental variables affect the efficacy of 1-MCP treatment on the ripening of climacteric fruits? Which indicators of ripening are most affected by 1-MCP? We identified further research that is needed to improve the efficacy of 1-MCP in the postharvest storage of climacteric fruits

  • It maintained the firmness of six fruits, namely, apricot, European pear, persimmon, cherimoya, guava and sapodilla, by at least 102%, but had little effect on jujube fruit when compared with untreated fruit. 1-MCP at every concentration maintained firmness, with the best concentrations range being below 0.5 μl/l, 1–20 μl/l and more than 100 μl/l (Fig. 4b)

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Summary

Introduction

Fruits are stored to maintain fresh quality and extend their shelf life, thereby reducing the loss of commercial value associated with high metabolic rates and disease susceptibility. Increased respiration in climacteric fruits is typically associated with autocatalytic production of the plant growth regulator ethylene, which mediates many aspects of ripening[1]. 1-MCP was patented in 1996, followed by rapid registration and commercialization because of its nontoxic mode of action, effectiveness at low concentrations, and easy application as a gas. It has been used extensively as a research tool to study the effects of ethylene on a range of climacteric and nonclimacteric fruits, vegetables, and flowers[5,6]. The majority of commercial use of 1-MCP is on apples, with less use on other products, in part

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