RESPIRATION RATE AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF COLD STORED ‘TOMMY ATKINS’ MANGOES INFLUENCED BY 1-MCP AND MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING

'Tommy Atkins' mangoes were harvested at stage 2 of maturity and treated with gaseous 1-Methylciclopropene (1-MCP) (100 or 500 nL.L^-1) at room temperature in sealed chambers for 12 hours. Aiming to study the influence of 1-MCP and modified atmosphere, isolated or combined, on ripening, fruits were stored during 25 days at 11.5 ± 1.7 °C and 86.1 ± 8.4 % RH, followed by 7 days at 25.4 ± 0.2 °C and 97.6 ± 1.2 % RH. The lowest respiratory rates were observed in fruits treated with 100 nL.L^-1 of 1-MCP without MA and in those with 500 nL.L^-1 of 1-MCP and MA. 1-MCP kept fruits more acid and with higher vitamin C contents, especially the concentration of 100 nL.L^-1 of 1-MCP which showed the greatest effect on 'Tommy Atkins' ripening. There is apparently no effect of 1-MCP on total soluble solids. The isolated use of modified atmosphere by film reduced soluble solids accumulation. The use of 1-MCP alone would represent lower postharvest costs, higher number of treated fruits and less postharvest management steps.