Quality maintenance of 1-Methylcyclopropene combined with titanium dioxide photocatalytic reaction on postharvest cherry tomatoes

This study explored the effects of 1-MCP combined with TPC treatment on bioactive compounds, odor, and ultrastructure of cherry tomatoes during postharvest storage. The results showed that the three treatments could all maintain the firmness, soluble solids, and titratable acidity content. It was noteworthy that TPC applied to cherry tomatoes had positive effects on removing off-flavors and reducing accumulation of malondialdehyde, and it can better retain the lycopene content compared with 1-MCP in the later storage period. In addition, the combined treatment was more effective than the control check, single 1-MCP and single TPC, which can inhibit the respiration and ethylene production of cherry tomatoes, maintain the ascorbic acid content, and sustain the integrity of peel and pulp cell structure during postharvest storage. Our study concluded that 1-MCP + TPC was a feasible technology that can enhance the effect of single 1-MCP treatment and make up for the limitations of single treatment. Practical applications The moisture content of cherry tomatoes is higher than 90% so that cherry tomatoes are prone to softening, rot, and quality deterioration after harvest. They are typical climacteric fruits with obvious respiratory peaks. In the process of postharvest transportation and storage, intricate physiological and biochemical reactions occur in cells. A growing number of studies had shown that 1-Methylcyclopropene had certain limitations. We used combined treatment, in order to enhance the effect of single 1-Methylcyclopropene treatment and better guarantee the edible value and commodity value of postharvest cherry tomatoes. Our research showed that 1-Methylcyclopropene combined with titanium dioxide photocatalytic treatment may become an advanced preservation technology, and can provide a new idea for improving the storage quality of postharvest cherry tomatoes.

Automated summary

This study investigated the effects of 1-MCP combined with TPC treatment on cherry tomatoes during postharvest storage. The results showed that the combined treatment maintained the firmness and chemical composition of the tomatoes, and had positive effects on removing off-flavors and reducing accumulation of malondialdehyde. In addition, the combined treatment was more effective than single treatments in inhibiting respiration and ethylene production, maintaining ascorbic acid content, and sustaining the integrity of peel and pulp cell structure.