title: 1-MCP suppresses ethylene biosynthesis and delays softening of 'Hami' melon during storage at ambient temperature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  'Hami' melon is susceptible to softening during postharvest storage at ambient temperature, which enhances postharvest deterioration and limits transportation and storage. To look for a method of softening control, the effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on regulating postharvest softening of 'Hami' melon fruit was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1-MCP treatment at 1 µL L(-1) significantly reduced ethylene production and maintained higher levels of fruit firmness. It also markedly inhibited the accumulation of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) and maintained lower activities of ACC synthase and ACC oxidase. In addition, 1-MCP treatment reduced the activities of fruit-softening enzymes such as pectin methyl esterase, polygalacturonase, endo-1,4-β-glucanase and β-galactosidase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1-MCP was effective in suppressing ethylene production and delaying fruit softening in 'Hami' melon by decreasing the activities of ethylene biosynthesis enzymes and inhibiting fruit-softening enzymes.
authors.affiliation: College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang 1, Nanjing 210095, China.
authors.forename: Xuewen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shifeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Yonghua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Aiping
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002681:China; D028463:Cucumis melo / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D003521:Cyclopropanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D005511:Food Handling; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008190:Lyases / Q000378:metabolism; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D011786:Quality Control; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D005030:Ethylenes; D005520:Food Preservatives; D010940:Plant Proteins; C043950:1-amino-2-ethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid; C036216:ethylene; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; C059460:1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase; D008190:Lyases; C021773:1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylate synthase; C412563:1-methylcyclopropene