Effect of Preharvest and Postharvest 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) Treatments on Fruit Quality Attributes in Cold-stored ‘Fuji’ Apples

Abstract

This work was carried out to evaluate the effects of preharvest 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP, Harvista™) and postharvest 1-MCP (SmartFresh™) treatments on the fruit quality attributes of cold-stored ‘Fuji’ (Malus domestica Borkh.) apples. Fruits were exposed to 0, 95, 125, or 250 mg･L-1 Harvista™ at 3, 2, 1 weeks before harvest (WBH), and treated with 0 or 1 μL･L-1 SmartFresh™ at harvest. Fruit was then stored for up to 180 days at 0 ± 1°C. Fruit fresh weight, Hunter’s value a, internal ethylene concentration (IEC), flesh firmness, titratable acidity (TA), and soluble solids content (SSC) in fruit treated with Harvista™ were not different from those of control fruit at harvest. During cold storage, flesh firmness and TA were higher in fruit treated with 250 mg･L-1 Harvista™ at 2 and 3 WBH than in control fruit. IEC was 5.5-10.0% lower in fruit treated with 250 mg･L-1 Harvista™ at 2 and 3 WBH compared with control fruit as storage duration progressed, while SSC was not affected. Furthermore, flesh firmness, TA, and IEC were affected neither by Harvista™ nor Harvista™ + SmartFresh™ treatments, compared with those fruit quality attributes at harvest. The correlation maps indicated that IEC was negatively correlated with firmness and TA, regardless of Harvista™ application levels. In addition, positive correlations between fruit quality attributes were detected in treatments with 250 mg･L-1 Harvista™ + SmartFresh™. Therefore, the results suggest that with a single application of SmartFresh™, a higher level of Harvista™ application would help in retention of fruit quality attributes during cold storage.