Quality of apples cv. Gala treated with 1-methylcyclopropene

The objective of this work was to verify the efficacy of the initial application of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and the effect of different reapplication dosis after 4 months of cold storage on quality of apple cv. Gala. The treatments originated from the combination between application time (at storage and after four months of storage) and dosis of 1-MCP (0, 312, 625nLL-1). The treatments were: 0+0nLL-1; 0+312nLL-1; 0+625nLL-1; 625+0nLL-1; 625+312nLL-1 and 625+625nLL-1. After 180 days of storage at 0.5ºC and 14 days at 20ºC, the initial application of 625nLL-1 of 1-MCP provided the highest flesh firmness, titratable acidity and maintained fruit skin greener. However, there was no effect on fruit decay and total soluble solid content. The reapplication of 1-MCP, after four months of storage, showed no effect on fruit quality. The application of 1-MCP after 14 days at 20°C at the beginning of the storage period, independently of the reapplication, maintained higher flesh firmness, higher levels of TSS and titratable acidity, greener skin color and lower decay incidence.

ethylene; storage; postharvest; 1-MCP; Malus domestica Borkh