title: Response of Pink Lady® apples to post-harvest application of 1-methylcyclopropene as a function of applied dose, maturity at harvest, storage time and controlled atmosphere storage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) is an inhibitor of ethylene reception used in post-harvest treatments to delay fruit ripening. Several factors affect the efficacy of 1-MCP treatments. The effect of a post-harvest treatment with 1-MCP on the quality of Pink Lady® apples as a function of 1-MCP dose, storage time and maturity at harvest was investigated. 1-MCP treatment was further tested in combination with controlled atmosphere (CA) storage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1-MCP limited fruit respiration and softening during storage and was more effective on partially matured fruits and at prolonged storage times. The delaying of 1-MCP on the increase of ripening index was greater on matured fruits at prolonged storage times. The combination of 1-MCP and CA treatments positively affected quality indices of mature apples during 6 months of storage and 7 days of commercial life, with 1-MCP being more effective than CA. 1-MCP and CA showed positive combined effects on firmness and ripening index after 6 months of storage, and on firmness and CO₂ production after a further 7 days of commercial life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By knowing fruit maturity at harvest and expected storage time it is possible to choose the most suitable 1-MCP dose to meet the market requirements by applying a simple polynomial model.
authors: CIRI Agroalimentare, Campus Scienze degli Alimenti, Via Ravennate 1020, 47521, Cesena, Italy.
authors: Emiliano
authors: E
authors: Cocci
authors: Giampiero
authors: G
authors: Sacchetti
authors: Pietro
authors: P
authors: Rocculi
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Dalla Rosa
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D003521:Cyclopropanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005520:Food Preservatives / Q000737:chemistry*; D063427:Food Quality; D061353:Food Storage; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D027845:Malus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008954:Models, Biological; D009812:Odorants; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012034:Refrigeration; D012677:Sensation; D013649:Taste; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D003521:Cyclopropanes; D005520:Food Preservatives; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D014867:Water; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; C412563:1-methylcyclopropene
keywords: Pink Lady® apples; controlled atmosphere; firmness; methylcyclopropene; ripening; sensory analysis