1-methylcyclopropene and Harvest Maturity Impact 'Ma'afala' Breadfruit Postharvest Storage

Breadfruit marketing is limited by its rapid ripening and deterioration after harvest; therefore, improved postharvest practices may facilitate breadfruit market-ing. This study examined the effect of harvest maturity and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on the postharvest quality of 'Ma'afala' breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis). Breadfruit was harvested at 13, 15, and 17 weeks after flowering, and half of each harvest was treated with 1 lL center dot L21 of 1-MCP for 20 hours. During storage, the weight of the fruit, hand feeling, skin color, respiration rate, and ethylene production rate were evaluated every other day until the fruit deteriorated. Compared with untreated fruit, 1-MCP treatment delayed the climacteric respiratory peak by 6 days (65% delay), delayed complete softening by 7 days (63% delay), and increased uniformity in the number of days to the climacteric respiratory peak and complete softening. Skin discoloration was delayed during the earliest harvest period by 5 days (108% delay). Picking breadfruit at early harvest maturity may be useful for preventing discoloration, and 1-MCP may be useful for preventing softening.

Automated summary

This study found that picking breadfruit at early harvest maturity can delay the process of fruit softening and skin discoloration, and treatment with 1-MCP can further delay the climacteric respiratory peak and complete softening of the fruit. Therefore, picking breadfruit at early maturity and using 1-MCP treatment are effective methods for improving the postharvest quality of breadfruit.