1-MCP TREATMENT INCREASES INTERNAL BROWNING DISORDERS IN 'ALEXANDER LUCAS' PEARS STORED UNDER CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the effect of 1-MCP associated with controlled atmosphere (CA) on the incidence and severity of internal browning disorders (IB) in 'Alexander Lucas' pears harvested at two dates and from three different orchards. The fruit were picked in the southwest of Germany, in 2012, and then submitted to the treatments organized according to a two-factor design: with and without application of 1-MCP (300 μl L-1) versus two harvest dates (05/09/2012 and 18/09/2012). The fruit were stored under CA (2.0 kPa O2 and <;0.7 kPa O2) at 0°C. A similar behavior of the fruit in terms of incidence and severity of IB was observed. Fruit harvested in all orchards presented a significant increase in incidence and severity of IB when treated with 1-MCP. Nevertheless, a higher incidence of the disorder was observed in orchard 2 in fruit treated with 1-MCP only during the first harvest. The treatment with 1-MCP (300 μl L-1) increases the incidence of IB disorder in 'Alexander Lucas' pears stored under CA (2.0 kPa O2 and <0.7 kPa O2) for three months and plus 7 days of shelf life. A significant effect of the harvest date on the incidence and severity of IB was not observed.