Methyl jasmonate promotes apple fruit degreening independently of ethyleneaction

Climacteric 'Fuji' apples (Malus xdomestica Borkh.) were treated with water , 0.45 mmol.m(-3) 1-methylcyclopropene (MCP), 2 mmol.L-1 methyljasmonate (M J), or both MCP and MJ. Fruit were kept at 20 degrees C for 17 days after t reatment. Ethylene production, respiration, and color change mere all inhib ited following MCP treatment. Ethylene production following MJ treatment fl uctuated below and above that of controls, but was representative of postcl imacteric apples at all times. Rates of respiration and color change were e nhanced by MS, even when fruit mere previously treated with MCP. The result s indicate that MJ can enhance rate of color change and respiration in appl e fruit independently of ethylene action.