1-MCP application in preharvest improves persimmon quality in postharvest

The study by Moreno, A.P., et al., investigated the preharvest 1-MCP application (Harvista® (HV)), as a novel strategy to maintain 'Rojo Brillante' persimmon postharvest quality at two commercial scenarios: 

1. to extend the commercial period in fruit treated with ethephon at the beginning of the season; 
2. to improve quality after cold storage in fruit treated with gibberellic acid (AG3) at the end of the season. 

The results of this study showed that HV applied 1, 7 and 10 days after ethephon treatment was effective in delaying ethephon-induced flesh softening during the harvest period. 

The application of HV 1 day after ethephon treatment maintained the highest flesh firmness during the posterior period of 3 days at 3°C plus 6 days at 20°C.

In addition, the combined use of pre- and postharvest treatment with 1-MCP improved fruit quality during the marketing period compared to the single postharvest 1-MCP application.

In AG3- treated fruit, application of HV was carried out 7days (HV7), 3 days (HV3), or a double application at 7 and 3 days before harvest (HV7+3).

After harvest, the fruit were treated or not with the commercial postharvest 1-MCP application and cold stored for up to 60 days plus 6-days at 20°C.

After cold storage and subsequent shelf life, HV applied 7 days before harvest had the same effect on firmness maintenance as postharvest 1-MCP treatment.

Fruit from HV3 and HV7+3 treatments exhibited higher firmness than the 1-MCP postharvest treated fruit.

In addition, in HV-treated fruit, a postharvest 1-MCP application did not improve firmness during commercialisation.

Therefore preharvest 1-MCP application could be a useful tool for optimizing handling operations in packinghouses.

Source

Preharvest application of 1-MCP on persimmon 
Ana Pilar Moreno (1), Alejandra Salvador (1), Rebeca Gil (1), Mario Vendrell (2) & Nariane Q. Vilhena (1)
(1) IVIA, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias
(2) Cooperativa Agrícola Nuestra Señora del Oreto Coop. V. Spain
Postharvest 2024, Rotorua, New Zealand, 11-15 November 2024, https://scienceevents.eventsair.com/postharvest-2024/

In the picture, Ana Pilar Moreno during the presentation of the paper in Postharvest 2024