Regulation of antioxidant and cell wall-degrading enzymes activities by 1-MCP improves postharvest quality in Liguang apricot

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1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), an ethylene inhibitor, acts on climacteric fruit by irreversibly blocking ethylene-receptor binding, effectively delaying postharvest senescence and ripening of horticultural produce. In this research, 1 μL/L 1-MCP was administered to fumigate Liguang apricot fruit, and the effects of storage at −1 ± 0.5 °C for 56 days on antioxidant capacity and the activities of cell wall-degrading enzymes (CWDEs) were investigated. Compared to the control, treatment with 1-MCP maintained better color as well as the amounts of soluble solids and titratable acidity and lowered chilling injury index. Compared with the control, 1-MCP decreased respiration rate and postponed the ethylene release peak up to storage day 28. At the end of storage, 1-MCP exhibited higher ascorbic acid (14.47 μg g –1 ) content and lower levels of malondialdehyde (1.75 μmol kg⁻¹), hydrogen peroxide (35.43 μmol g⁻¹), and superoxide anion (14.49 μmol g⁻¹ s⁻¹) compared to the control. The highest activities of superoxide dismutase (16.33 U g –1 ), catalase (5.35 μmol min –1 g –1 ), peroxidase (4.49 U g –1 ) and ascorbate peroxidase (116.66 U g⁻¹) induced by 1-MCP treatment compared to the control. 1-MCP treatment also increased the contents of total phenols and flavonoids in apricot fruit. Furthermore, 1-MCP markedly restrained polygalacturonase, cellulase, β-galactosidase, and pectin methylesterase activities, ultimately delaying the reduction in fruit firmness; their activities in treated fruit were 0.2%, 3.0%, 7.9%, and 5.0% lower than control group by the end of storage. Overall, the findings demonstrated that 1-MCP exposure serves as a valuable approach for preserving the storage quality and antioxidant capacity of Liguang apricots.