'Fuji' apples were treated with 42 mumol·m-3 of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) for 24 h at 20°C then stored at 0, 10 or 20 ºC for 70 days. MCP treatment reduced respiration on fruit held at 10 and 20 ºC and inhibited ethylene production regardless of storage temperature. Treated fruits held at 20ºC presented respiration rate similar to those of untreated fruits held at 10ºC. For fruit held at 10 or 20ºC, MCP treatment inhibited softening, loss of acidity and color changes on fruit surface. However, there was no considerable benefit of 1-MCP treatment on maintenance of fruit quality during short-term (70 days) and storage at 0ºC. Results indicated that 1-MCP is an effective mean to delay ripening and to retain fruit quality during transport and retailing at high temperature conditions (10 or 20ºC). Fruit stored at 20ºC longer than 40 days may exhibit high incidence of shrivel and decay, regardless of 1-MCP treatment.
Malus domestica; postharvest; ripening; quality
