RESPONSE OF 1‐METHYLCYCLOPROPENE TREATED “GRANNY SMITH” APPLE FRUIT TO AIR AND CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE STORAGE CONDITIONS

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the study, the efficacy of 1‐Methylcyclopropene (1‐MCP) on the quality of apples cv. “Granny Smith” was examined. Fruits were stored for 120 and 180 days at 0 ± 0.5C and 90 ± 5% relative humidity (RH) under normal (NA) and controlled atmosphere (CA), and samples taken at 120 and 180 days of storage were kept at 20 ± 2C and 60 ± 5% RH for 7 days. Weight loss was higher in fruits stored under NA. The lowest respiration rates were in CA while the highest rates were found in NA‐stored fruits without pretreated. 1‐MCP + CA reduced the internal ethylene concentration from 10.63 µL/L to 0.60 µL. The incidence and severity of superficial scald was 68.10 and 77.00% in fruits stored in NA. 1‐MCP consistently suppressed the expression of superficial scald. 1‐MCP maintained the quality fruit kept in CA and NA environments to a higher degree than nontreated apples over a 180‐day storage period. The results indicated that cv. “Granny Smith” could be stored successfully under 1‐MCP + CA conditions and that 1‐MCP + NA may be a viable alternative to CA for optimal eating quality.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS1‐Methylcyclopropene (1‐MCP) is an effective inhibitor of ethylene action and it binds irreversibly to ethylene receptors. 1‐MCP delays the onset of the climacteric ripening of fruits. Recently research has been conducted on the effects of 1‐MCP on postharvest behavior of fruits and vegetables with the objective of reducing physiological disorders and quality losses to prolong their commercial life. The use of 1‐MCP is easy. It is important that the fruit treated with 1‐MCP reach a good sensory quality at the commercial level. Superficial scald of apples is a physiological disorder, which following long‐term storage has the potential to destroy the market value and utility of millions of tons of fresh apples annually. The present work evaluated a prestorage conditioning treatment to protect against this physiological disorder. Results will allow the long storage of apple cv. “Granny Smith,” benefiting growers, exporters, shippers and distributors of this horticultural product.