This research was carried out to study the effects of storage temperature, treatment with 1-methycyclopropene (1-MCP), and induction of fresh mass loss (IFML) on quality of 'Laetitia' plums. Fruit were treated by storage at: -0.5°C; 0.5°C; 0.5°C combined with IFML; and at 0.5°C after treatment with 1-MCP (1.0µL L-1). Fruits stored at 0.5°C after treatment with 1-MCP exhibit the lowest respiration and ethylene production rates after four days of shelf life (23°C / 60% RH), despite of non significant difference between treatments at removal from cold storage. Fruits stored for 30 days at 0.5°C, combined with IFML or 1-MCP, exhibit the highest flesh firmness at removal from cold storage. However, after four days of shelf life, only fruits treated with 1-MCP before storage at 0.5°C had the highest flesh firmness. Fruits stored at -0.5°C and fruit treated with 1-MCP before storage at 0.5°C exhibit the lowest red color development at removal from cold storage, but not after four days of shelf life. Fruits stored at -0.5°C had a better preservation of texture attributes than those stored at 0.5°C, but fruit stored at 0.5oC after treatment with 1-MCP had the best texture. Fruits stored at 0.5°C exhibit increased incidence of flesh browning after four days of shelf life in comparison to fruit stored at -0.5°C. The best temperature for refrigerated storage of 'Laetitia' plums is -0.5°C. The treatments with 1-MCP and IFML contribute to preserve fruit quality during cold storage, but only the effect of 1-MCP persist after removal from cold storage.
Prunus salicina; postharvest; ethylene; respiration; flesh browning; quality
