In Brazil, the consumption of in natura peaches has been increasing every year. However, during the transport, the storage period and the commercialization, the losses are quite significant, having the need to develop technologies to maintain postharvest quality and to prolong the useful life of those fruits. The compound 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) has been used with positive results in several types of fruits as guava, banana, apple, among others. In this work, the isolated action of the treatment with 1-MCP was evaluated in peaches stored under environment conditions for the maintenance of firmness of fruits. The fruits cv. Diamante were from Nepomuceno - MG, Brazil, picked at the maturation stadium 'just before ripening' and selected in function of the size, maturation stadium and absence of injuries. The fruits were submitted to immersion in 1% sodium hypochlorite for disinfection and part of them were treated with 1-MCP, at the concentration of approximate 625 nL/L, per 12 hours. Soon after, the fruits were stored for up to 10 days, at environment temperature (22 ± 2°C and 77 ± 2% UR). It was realized analyses of pulp firmness, solubilization of pectins and pectinmethylesterase activities and polygalacturonase every 2 days, untill the end of the storage period. The fruits treated with 1-MCP presented greater firmness and smaller solubilization of pectins during the appraised period, and also smaller pectinmethylesterase activity that the fruits control until the 6th day of storage, showing that 1-MCP was efficient in delaying the softening of fruits at the studied period.
Prunus persica; 1-methylcyclopropene; postharvest; pectinmethylesterase
