Ripening and quality of 'Laetitia' plums following harvest and cold storage as affected by inhibition of ethylene action

The inhibition of ethylene action by 1-methylcyclopropene (1 -MCP) extends shelf and storage life of many climacteric fruits. However, I -MCP appears to have limited effects on stone fruit depending on specie and cultivar. The effects of 1-MCP on ripening and quality of 'Laetitia' plums were determined during ripening at 23degreesC following harvest and cold storage. Japanese plums (Prunus, cv, Laetitia) were harvested at mature pre-climacteric stage, cooled to 2degreesC within 36 hours of harvest and then treated with 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.50 or 1.00 muL L-1 of 1-MCP at 1degreesC for 24 hours. Following treatment, fruits were either held at 23degreesC for 16 days or stored at 1degreesC for 50 days. Fruits were removed from cold storage at I O-day intervals and allowed to ripe at 23degreesC for five days. A delay of climacteric respiration and ethylene production by I -MCP treatment during ripening following harvest and cold storage was associated to a slow rate of fruit softening. 1-MCP treatment also delayed the loss of titratable acidity and changes of flesh and skin color, whereas it had little or no effect on soluble solids content. 1 -MCP effects were concentration and storage duration-dependent and, generally, a saturation fruit response to 1-MCP occurred between 0.5 and 1.0 muL L-1. During ripening, 1-MCP treated fruits attained quality similar to that of controls. Results indicated that 1-MCP treatment may extend shelf life (23degreesC) and storage life (1degreesC) of 'Laetitia' plums by approximately six and 20 days, respectively.