title: Influence of different concentrations of 1-methylcyclopropene on the quality of tomato harvested at different maturity stages.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A wide range of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) concentrations as well as various treatment durations have been studied in tomatoes by different researchers. However, little is known about interaction of 1-MCP doses and maturity stages of tomatoes. Therefore the effects of different concentrations of 1-MCP on storage and postharvest quality of 'Zorro' tomatoes harvested at mature green or pink maturity stages were investigated in a 2-year trial study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Higher concentrations of 1-MCP delayed and/or inhibited all parameters related to fruit ripening, such as lycopene, chlorophyll, surface color, polygalacturonase (PG) activity and soluble solids content/titratable acidity (SSC/TA), and these effects were greater in tomatoes harvested at the mature green stages. Lower concentrations of 1-MCP slightly reduced the loss in general quality features compared with untreated tomatoes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that 1-MCP, especially at higher doses, is effective for delaying ripening of mature green tomatoes. Mature green fruits treated with 1000 nL L(-1) 1-MCP were stored for 35 days without significant decreases in quality characteristics such as elasticity, surface color and SSC/TA with certain physiological processes (ethylene production, PG activity, lycopene synthesis).
authors.affiliation: Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Selcuk, 42075 Konya, Turkey. fkbasmaci@selcuk.edu.tr
authors.forename: Ferhan K
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Sabir
authors.forename: I Tayfun
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Agar
mesh_terms: D000143:Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D003116:Color; D003521:Cyclopropanes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D061353:Food Storage / Q000379:methods*; D005638:Fruit / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000592:standards; D000077276:Lycopene; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum; D011096:Polygalacturonase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000143:Acids; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D002734:Chlorophyll; D002338:Carotenoids; D011096:Polygalacturonase; C412563:1-methylcyclopropene; D000077276:Lycopene