Ethylene Production by ‘Flamekist’ Nectarines as Influenced by Exposure to Ethylene and Propylene

Abstract ‘Flamekist’ nectarine fruit [ Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] picked during the slow-growth phase exhibited reduced C 2 H 4 production in response to 1250 and 12,500 ppm C 3 H 6 while fruit picked during the 2nd rapid-growth phase did not. Ethylene production by mature, preclimacteric nectarines during ripening in air at 20°C was stimulated by prior storage in air at 0° or exposure to 100 ppm C 2 H 4 at 0° or 20°. Storage in air + C 2 H 4 at 0° for longer than 4 days, however, nullified the stimulative effect. Subsequent peak-level C 2 H 4 production was reduced by one-half compared to air-stored fruit. Concentration of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) increased along with C 2 H 4 production rates during ripening. In mature fruit showing reduced C 2 H 4 production, ACC accumulated above the expected level relative to control fruit. The data indicates that the inhibition of C 2 H 4 production by C 3 H 6 in developing nectarine fruit during the slow-growth phase is due to low availability of ACC, while in mature fruit the reduction in C 2 H 4 production results from slowed conversion of ACC to C 2 H 4 .