1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) reduces water loss and extends shelf life of fruits of Rose apple ( Syzygium jambos Alston) cv. Tabtim Chan

Introduction. Rose apple fruit ripens on the tree, has a thin peel, soft flesh and deteriorates quickly after harvest. Water loss contributes to rapid deterioration. 1-MCP can extend the postharvest life of non-climacteric fruits either directly through its effect as an ethylene blocker or through indirect effects. Materials and methods. We investigated the effect of 1-MCP (1 µL·L–1 ) on shelf life and quality of Rose apple fruits (Syzygium jambos Alston) cv. Tabtim Chan. Fruit were exposed to 1-MCP for (0, 6, 12, 18 or 24) h, then stored at (15 ± 1) °C for 12 days. Subsequently, we investigated the effect of 1-MCP (1 µL·L–1 ) for 12 h on fruit stored at 5 °C or 10 °C. Weight loss, skin colour, total soluble solids, fruit firmness and percentage of diseased fruit were measured during storage. Results. 1-MCP reduced weight loss from about 13% of initial weight to 6%, irrespective of the time of exposure. 1-MCP applied to fruit for 12 h or 18 h increased firmness from 3.2 N to 3.8 N and more than halved the percentage of fruit showing disease. Exposure to 1-MCP for 12 h or 18 h was optimum for reducing disease. 1-MCP for 12 h and storage at (10 ± 1) °C doubled shelf life to 24 days compared with fruit stored at the same temperature, but without 1-MCP. Storage at less than 10 °C did not extend shelf life any further. Conclusion. 1-MCP extended the shelf life of Rose apple fruit by reducing weight loss, maintaining flesh firmness and slowing disease development.