EFFECTS OF 1-MCP TREATMENTS ON FRUIT QUALITY AND STORABILITY OF DIFFERENT PEAR VARIETIES

G. Lafer
The effects of 1-MCP treatments on ‘Williams’, ‘Bosc’ and ‘Packhams Triumph’ pears (Pyrus communis) stored in controlled atmosphere (CA) were studied. Each variety was harvested at three different stages of maturity (Optimal harvest date (OHD) – 1 week, OHD, OHD + 1 week). After harvesting, the fruits of each stage of maturity were divided in two samples. One part was treated with MCP 625 ppb the other one was untreated. After treatment the samples were stored for approximately 300 days under CA conditions (temperature -0.5°C, O2 2.5%, CO2 2.0%). Whereas untreated fruits showed excessive firmness losses and reduction of titratable acidity during shelf-life, 1-MCP delayed softening and stabilised titratable acidity of all tested varieties. These effects depended only on stage of maturity and were not variety-dependent. Fruits in stage of over maturity lost more in firmness and acidity than fruits harvested at their optimal stage of maturity. TTS were not affected by 1-MCP. Fungal decay caused by Penicillium expansum (blue mold decay) and Botrytis cinerea (grey mold decay) was the main problem after long term storage. CA and also 1-MCP were not effective in preventing abundant storage losses caused by excessive fruit rotting. The ability of 1-MCP to reduce fungal decay varied considerably among the cultivars and the stage of maturity. When to late harvested pears were treated with 1-MCP only very little or no response occurred. Treatments with a low dosage of 1-MCP (125 ppb) on pears that were harvested too late showed only very little or no response.
Lafer, G. (2005). EFFECTS OF 1-MCP TREATMENTS ON FRUIT QUALITY AND STORABILITY OF DIFFERENT PEAR VARIETIES. Acta Hortic. 682, 1227-1232
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.682.163
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.682.163
Pyrus x communis, pear, optimal harvest date, controlled atmosphere, 1-MCP, fruit quality, firmness, storage disorders
English
682_163
1227-1232

Acta Horticulturae