Research Articles
Effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-mcp) treatment on postharvest quality and antifungal activity of avocado cv. ‘pollock’ under tropical storage conditions
Authors:
C. H. Daulagala ,
University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, LK
About C. H.
Department of Botany
W. A. M. Daundasekera
University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, LK
About W. A. M.
Department of Botany
Abstract
1-MCP is a competitive, gaseous ethylene inhibitor, which binds irreversibly to ethylene receptors and thereby blocks effects of ethylene in plants. The potential for 1-MCP to delay ripening in avocado cv. ‘Pollock’ fruit was examined under tropical ambient storage conditions. Fruits harvested at commercial maturity were exposed to 300 nll-1 1-MCP gas for 20 h under 27± 2 ˚C and then stored under ambient conditions (27± 2 ˚C and relative humidity 65 ± 2%). Fruits were assessed daily for fresh weight, firmness, skin colour, fungal rot development and glossiness. The antifungal activity in diethylether extracts of fruit peel was assessed through thin layer chromatography (TLC) coupled with Cladosporium bioassay. Exposure to 1-MCP extended the shelf life up to 9 days of fruit by 2.2 fold as compared to the shelf life of 4 days of the controls. Stem end rot caused by Botryodiplodia theobromae was found to be the shelf-life determining factor of the fruits. 1-MCP treatment resulted in a significant (p< 0.05) delay in change in peel colour, softening and glossiness of fruit as compared to the controls. Bioassays using Cladosporium fungus revealed the presence of antifungal activity at Rf0.75 in both 1-MCP treated and control fruits. 1-MCP treatment was effective in delaying the decline of antifungal activity in fruit apparently along with the delay of other ripening-related changes and minimizing losses encountered during storage under warmer ambient conditions.
How to Cite:
Daulagala, C.H. and Daundasekera, W.A.M., 2016. Effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-mcp) treatment on postharvest quality and antifungal activity of avocado cv. ‘pollock’ under tropical storage conditions. Ceylon Journal of Science (Biological Sciences), 44(2), pp.75–83. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/cjsbs.v44i2.7352
Published on
03 Jun 2016.
Peer Reviewed
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