The gas 1-methylcyclopropene acts inhibiting the action site of ethylene, increasing the postharvest period of the fruits. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of this gas on postharvest conservation of kiwifruit cv. Monty at ambient temperature. The study consisted of fruit exposition to 1MCP at the concentrations of 0, 0,5 and 1,0 mg dm-3 during 24 hours, and stored at 20 ± 4 ºC per 20 days, with evaluations at 4 days intervals. It had been evaluated: firmness of pulp, pulp color, soluble solids, pH, total acidity, % of pectin and % of firm fruits for transport and consumption. The color of pulp was an adequate parameter to evaluate the ripening of fruits, since it had correlation with the firmness. The application of 1MCP preserved the firmness the color of the pulp, extending the quality for transportation and consumption for 4 and 12 days, and did not have effect on pH, soluble solids and pectin. In the treatments with 1-MCP occurred an initial increase of the acidity with posterior decrease. With time a reduction of the firmness, an increase of the soluble solids and the color of the pulp occurred, characterizing the ripening of the fruits.
post harvest; Actinidia deliciosa; storage
