Quality improvement and extension of shelf life by 1-methylcyclopropene in plum as affected by ripening stage at harvest
D. Valero, D. Martínez-Romero, J. M. Valverde, F. Guillén and M. Serrano
Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies Volume 4, Issue 3 , September 2003, Pages 339-348
2003
บทคัดย่อ
Plum (Prunus domestica L. cv. ‘President’) fruits were harvested at two pre-climacteric stages of ripeness (stage 1 and stage 2), and then treated with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) at two doses (0.3 and 0.5 l l-1) followed by 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 weeks of cold storage and their respective 7 days of shelf life at 20 °C. Both 1-MCP doses were effective in terms of ethylene inhibition during shelf life after cold storage, for both ripening stages. Similarly, lower weight losses, delayed colour changes, reduced softening rate and diminished ripening index were found in 1-MCP treated plums than in controls at both stages of ripeness. Hence, during cold storage and shelf life, the efficacy of 1-MCP on ethylene production, weight loss, pulp firmness and ripening index was dose-dependent, while for colour and respiration rate the dose-dependence was only found during shelf life. The storability of 1-MCP treated plums could be extended up to 4 weeks of cold storage plus 7 days at 20 °C, and only up to 1 week of cold storage plus 7 days at 20 °C for controls. Then, 1-MCP is an effective tool for quality improvement and extension of shelf life in plums, and fruit might be harvested in stage 2 of ripening, at which the most desirable organoleptic attributes had been developed on tree.
Subject-index terms: Industrial relevance: The data presented in this work demonstrate that this innovative and simple technology may successfully maintain plum quality for long period of cold storage and subsequent days at ambient temperature, at which are usually displayed in the super stores. Also, this is particularly relevant for late plum cultivars, since the availability at the market of these fruits could be extended for longer periods.