Effect of Postharvest Application of 1-Methycyclopropene on Storage Behavior of Fresh Tomatoes (S olanum lycopersicum L.)

The present study was conducted on fresh tomatoes (cv. Punjab Ratta) of mature green to breaker stage treated with 1-methycyclopropene (1-MCP) at different concentrations to find out its efficacy on storage behavior at 13 ± 2C and relative humidity (RH) of 85–90%. Data from this study suggested that 1-MCP had no effect on the TSS content of the fruits during the period of storage. Fruits treated with 1-MCP at 180 mg/10 L recorded the lowest physiological loss in weight throughout the storage period compared to control. At 26 days after treatment, fruits treated with 1-MCP at 120 mg/10 L recorded the significant lowest decay (9.87%) over control (35.65%). Studies on titratable acidity (TA) revealed that fruits treated with 1-MCP at 180 mg/10 L recorded a higher TA up to 11 days after storage and at 1-MCP at 120 mg/10 L maintained higher TSS from 16 to 21 days after treatment. Practical Applications Considering the postharvest behavior of tomato being a climacteric fruit, it is essential to control the ethylene production to maintain the fruit quality during storage. 1-methylcyclopropene is a potent inhibitor of ethylene action and has been used for extending the shelf life and maintaining the quality of fresh products. Aqueous application of 1-MCP is easy, quick and effective method to extend the shelf life and preserve the quality of tomatoes compared to gaseous application.