1-methylcyclopropene action on postharvest conservation of 'Palmer' mango fruit at different maturity stages

Abstract:

The objective of this work was to evaluate the application effects of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) in 'Palmer' mango fruit (Mangifera indica), at the maturity stages 2 and 3, on postharvest conservation during the storage period. Two experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design with four replicates. In the first one, mango fruit at the maturity stage 2 were subjected to treatments with different 1-MCP doses (control, 300, 600, and 1,000 nL L^-1), for 12 hours, and refrigerated storage times of 0, 8, and 15 days at 14.5±2°C and 85±6% RH, followed by 3, 5, 7, and 9 days at 24±2°C and 60±6% RH. In the second experiment, mango at the maturity stage 3 were subjected to the same treatments as those of the first one, but with the application of 1-MCP for 14 hours and storage at 13±0.6°C and 87±2% RH, and 24.4±1.9°C and 47±8% RH. The use of the doses of 300 and 600 nL L^-1 1-MCP at the maturity stage 2 improves fruit appearance, but it is limited to temporary effects on pulp firmness and starch breakdown. At the doses of 600 and 1,000 nL L^-1, at the maturity stage 3, 1-MCP delays firmness loss and maintains the marketable fruit appearance until the twenty-fourth day.

Index terms:
Mangifera indica; storage; ethylene inhibitor; shelf life.