Inhibition of ethylene action by 1-methylcyclopropene prolongs storage life of apricots

'Perfection' apricot fruit (Prunus armeniaca L.) were treated with 1 mu l l (-1) 1-methylcyclopropene (MCP) for 4 h at 20 degrees C then stored at 0 or 20 degrees C. The onset of ethylene production was delayed and respiration rate was reduced following MCP treatment. MCP treatment resulted in less f irmness and titratable acidify loss during storage at both temperatures and delayed production of volatile alcohols and esters during ripening at 20 d egrees C. MCP treated fruit also exhibited less color change and were green er than controls. The effects of MCP were less pronounced following treatme nt of fruit at a more advanced stage of development. (C) Published by Elsev ier Science B.V.