Wax composition of ‘Red Fuji’ apple fruit during development and during storage after 1-methylcyclopropene treatment

Abstract

Changes in surface wax composition of ‘Red Fuji’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh. ‘Red Fuji’) during development and during storage at 0 ± 1°C after 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatments were studied by the means of gas chromatography -mass spectrometry. Total wax increased during fruit development. During the storage at 0 ± 1°C, total waxes declined, and the decline was significantly delayed in 1-MCP-treated fruit. Total waxes were chromatographically separated into nonpolar and polar components. Nonacosane was the most abundant nonpolar wax, comprising 95% of total hydrocarbons. Polar wax components were comprised of nonacosan-10-ol (29%) and nonacosan-10-one (16%), along with a series of fatty acids and derivatives. Distinct patterns of wax changes were observed. Nonacosane, heptacosane and nonacosene increased during the development and decreased over seven months of fruit storage at 0 ± 1°C. Declines were delayed or slightly suppressed in 1-MCP-treated fruit. By contrast, nonacosan-10-ol, nonacosan-10-one, and 9, 12-octadecadienoic acid showed variable accumulation trends during the development but significant increases during storage that were strongly suppressed in 1-MCP-treated fruit. The association of wax changes with ethylene production and the responses to 1-MCP indicate that ethylene strongly influences wax composition in ‘Red Fuji’ apple fruit.