Effect of 1-MCP on Physiological Characteristics of Malus asiatica Nakai during Storage Period

The effects of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment and modified atmosphere (MA) package on Malus asiatica Nakai fruit firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), titrable acidity (TA) content, respiration rate, ethylene release rate, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, decay index were studied during storage at 23 +/- 1 degrees C. The results showed that 1-MCP delayed fruit ripening and senescence by inhibiting the decline of Malus asiatica Nakai fruit firmness, TSS, TA content, restraining respiratory rate, postponing the appearing time of respiration peak and reducing the climactic values, also by restraining ethylene release rate, delaying the ethylene peak 5 d than that of contrast sample, and by decreasing of MDA content. The treatment of 1-MCP and MA package could reduce the incidence of fruit decay to a certain extent. Among the three concentrations of 1-MCP treatment, the effect of 1000 nL/L was optimal.