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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Hilo, Hawaii » Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center » Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #400420
Research Project: Postharvest Protection of Tropical Commodities for Improved Market Access and Quarantine Security

Location: Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research

Title: 1-methylcyclopropene and harvest maturity impact ‘Ma’afala’ breadfruit postharvest storage

Author
item WISEMAN, BENJAMIN - University Of Hawaii
item PAULL, ROBERT - University Of Hawaii
item LINCOLN, NOA - University Of Hawaii
item Wall, Marisa

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/27/2023
Publication Date: 5/8/2023
Citation: Wiseman, B.J., Paull, R.E., Lincoln, N.K., Wall, M.M. 2023. 1-methylcyclopropene and harvest maturity impact ‘Ma’afala’ breadfruit postharvest storage. HortScience. 58(6):666-670. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17076-23.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17076-23

Interpretive Summary: Breadfruit is consumed at various stages of maturity, but most often as a mature unripe fruit. As breadfruit softens, it becomes very susceptible to compression damage and difficult to handle during marketing. This study examined the effect of harvest maturity and an ethylene inhibitor (1-MCP) on the postharvest quality of breadfruit. Treatment with 1-MCP delayed softening by 7 days but did not affect the fruit’s discoloration rate. Discoloration was delayed in the first harvest compared to late harvested fruit. Picking breadfruit at an early harvest maturity may be useful to delay discoloration, and 1-MCP may be useful to prevent softening.

Technical Abstract: This study examines the effect of harvest maturity and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on postharvest quality of ‘Ma'afala’ breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis). Breadfruit were harvested at 13, 15, and 17 weeks after flowering, and half of each harvest were treated with 1 ppm of active ingredient 1-MCP for 20 hours. The fruit were evaluated during storage for weight, hand feel, skin color, respiration rate, and ethylene production. Treatment with 1-MCP delayed the climacteric peak by 6 days (65% delay), delayed softening by 7 days (63% delay) and reduced variation in these traits. Discoloration was delayed in the first harvest compared to late harvested fruit (delay of 5 days, 108%). Treatment with 1-MCP delayed the time between the peak ethylene and the peak respiration from 0 to 4 days. Picking breadfruit at an early harvest maturity may be useful to delay discoloration, and 1-MCP may be useful to prevent softening.