Abstract:

‘Dashi Early Ripening' plums were treated with 0.1, 0.5, 1 μL·L^-1 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) at ambient temperature for 12 h following harvest to evaluate the effectiveness of 1-MCP in extending the shelf life. The fruit firmness, soluble pectin, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, respiration rate, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities as well as soluble sugar and titratable acidity content of the treated plums were measured over thereafter 12 d during which the plums were stored in ambient temperature. The result showed that the plums treated with 1 μL·L^-1 1-MCP remained consumer quality better than that with the other treatments. Their firmness was 249% higher than that of control on the 3rd d of storage, their MDA content was 40% lower than that of control on the 9th d of storage, the titratable acidity was 16.5% higher and the soluble sugar content was 25% higher than that of control at the end of the storage. The treatment with 1 μL·L^-1 1-MCP lowered the respiration rate and soluble pectin content, and retarded the respiration peak in comparison with control. The treatment also maintained relative higher SOD, CAT activities. It was concluded that 1 μL·L^-1 1-MCP treatment was efficient for extending the shelf life and maintaining the quality of ‘Dashi Early Ripening' plums.

Key words: plums, 1-methylcyclopropene, post-harvest biology, quality