1-Methylcyclopropene can differentially affect the postharvest life of strawberries exposed to ethylene

Abstract

Strawberry (Fragaria xananassa Duch.) fruit were fumigated for 2 hours at 20 °C with 1-mcp at concentrations from 5 to 500 nL·L-1, then held at 20 and 5 °C in air containing 0.1 μL·L-1 ethylene. Fumigation with 1-mcp at 5 to 15 nL-L-1 extended the postharvest life by ≃35% at 20 °C and 150% at 5 °C, but at higher 1-mcp concentrations there was an accelerated loss of quality with a 30% to 60% decrease in postharvest life at 500 nL·L-1 at both 20 and 5 °C. Chemical name used: 1-methylcyclopropene (1-mcp).