Synthetic platform for controlled delivery of 1-MCP: An effective approach to the protection of crops and produce

Authors: Sarker, Majher; Liu, Linshu; SHAHRIN, TASNUVA - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE); Fan, Xuetong; Tomasula, Peggy

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/12/2020
Publication Date: 7/17/2020
Citation: Sarker, M.I., Liu, L.S., Shahrin, T., Fan, X., Tomasula, M.M. 2020. Synthetic platform for controlled delivery of 1-MCP: An effective approach to the protection of crops and produce. Book Chapter. . In: Tunick, M. and Liu, L.S., editors. Innovative Uses of Agricultural Products and Byproducts. ACS Division of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, Inc. ACS Symposium Series eBook, Vol. 1347. Chapter 6, p. 109-127.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: 1-Methylcycloprene (1-MCP) is an FDA-approved plant-growth regulator used to retard the ripening of flowers or fruits and thus prolong their shelf-life. It is a gas at ambient temperature, which limits its broad spectrum of application, such as using it in open fields to protect against the yield loss of grain crops caused by water-stress from drought conditions. In this study, we synthesized a series of boron derivatives of methylenecyclopropane (R, R’-B-MCP) which are stable at ambient conditions and capable of releasing 1-MCP gradually when in contact with water or moisture, even from the air. The rate of 1-MCP release varies for different R, R’-B-MCP compounds mainly based on their structural differences, which offers an advantage of better selection of the compound for a particular application. This chemical has great potential to be used in the pre-harvest protection of crops and in the postharvest preservation of produce.