Title : 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) effects in post harvest storage and quality preservation of abate fetel pears
Abstract:
Appreciated by consumers for their aroma, texture and balanced sweet, Abate Fètel pears is the most important cultivar in North of Italy, especially in Emilia Romagna region and the strategies to increase shelf- life and maintain fruit quality are priority to the food industries.
The use of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), reducing the effects of ethylene, which is the main responsible for fruit ripening, is one of the most interesting techniques actually used.
The aim of our work was: i) to evaluate the influence of 1-MCP on post-harvest fruit quality and shelf-life of Abate Fetel' pears, in samples treated with 1-MCP for 24 h, and than stored at 1-2°C in a climatic cell for different period (from September to March); ii) to evaluate the influence of 1-MCP on post-harvest fruit quality and shelf-life of Abate Fetel' pears comparing with samples stored only in climatic cell.
The assessed parameters were glucose and fructose, pH, acidity and organic acids (malic, citric, fumaric and shikimic), ash, protein, firmness for fruit pulp; phenolic content and phenolic compounds (chlorogenic and caffeic acids, rutin, hyperoside, kaempferol-3-rutinoside and isoquercitrin) and antioxidant activity in fruit peels.
It was observed that 1-MCP was efficient in maintaining fruit quality till the six months of storage (from September to March) and we also observed that the fruits treated with 1-MCP better preserved the phytochemical compounds compared to simple refrigeration, preserving the fruit’s quality and prolonging its shelf-life.
