Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wenatchee, Washington » Physiology and Pathology of Tree Fruits Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #177946
Title: INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF 1-MCP, METHYL JASMONATE AND CA STORAGE ON QUALITY OF 'FUJI' APPLE FRUIT

Author
item ARGENTA, LUIZ - EMPAGRA, BRAZIL
item Mattheis, James
item Fan, Xuetong

Submitted to: Controlled Atmosphere Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2005
Publication Date: 7/1/2005
Citation: Argenta, L., Mattheis, J.P., Fan, X. 2005. Interactive effects of 1-MCP, methyl jasmonate and CA storage on quality of 'Fuji' apple fruit. Controlled Atmosphere Conference Proceedings.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The present study evaluated how postharvest treatment with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and Methyl Jasmonate (MJ) affect responses of 'Fuji' apple fruit to CA storage conditions. 'Fuji' apples were harvested one week after optimum maturity for long-term storage from a commercial orchard in north central Washington (seasons one and two) and from 4 commercial orchards in Santa Catarina, Brazil (season three). Fruit were cooled to 0.5 deg C within 24 h of harvest and then stored in air or controlled atmosphere (CA). Fruit from season one were stored in CA with 2 kPa O2 + 0.0 5 kPa CO2; 0.25 kPa O2 + 0.05 kPa CO2 or 2 kPa O2 + 3 kPa CO2 for 6 months. Fruit from season two and three were stored in CA with 1.5 kPa O2 + 0.05 kPa CO2 or 1.5 kPa (2 + 3 kPa CO2 for 8 months as a rapid CA (established with 72 h of harvest) or a delayed CA (established after 2,3,4 or 6 weeks of harvest). Alternatively, low CO2-CA (1.5 kPa )2 + 0.05 kPa CO2) was etablished with 72 h of harvest and the CO2 increased to 3 kPa after 1,2 or 3 months of harvest. Fruit were treated with 1 mMol MJ or 1 uL L**-1 1-MCP at harvest. Both CA conditions and 1-MCP treatment reduced ethylene production, improved maintenance of firmness and titratable acidity and reduced incidence of scald and core flush during long-term storage compared with untreated fruit stored in air. 1-MCP treatment was as or more effective as low CO2-CA storage for reducing ethylene production and preservation of firmness and acidity in 'Fuji' apples depending on season and/or storage period. 'Fuji' apples stored in 3 kPa CO2 developed internal browning (CO2-injury) while fruit stored in 0.25 kPa O2 0.05 kPa CO2 or air did not, regardless of 1-MCP treatment. There were no significant impacts of 1-MCP treatment on development of CO2-injury in air- or rapid CA-stored fruit from Washington, while 1-MCP treatment enhanced incidence and severity of CO2 injury in rapid CA-stored fruit from Brazil. MJ treatment reduced severity of CO2-injury. Delaying CA (1.5 kPa O2 + 3 kPa CO2) or CO2 (3 kPa) accumulation during CA reduced the incidence of CO2-injury. However, CA- and CO2-delay procedures were less effective on prevention of CO2-injury for fruit treated with 1-MCP compared with untreated fruit regardless of orchard and region. Results indicate that 1-MCP treatment extends the period after harvest when 'Fuji' apples are susceptible to CO2-injury.