Abstract

OSUNA-GARCIA, J. A.; PEREZ-BARRAZA, M. H.; VAZQUEZ-VALDIVIA, V.  and  URIAS-LOPEZ, M. A.. A commercial alternative to extend shelf-life of 'Maradol' papaya. Rev. Chapingo Ser.Hortic [online]. 2009, vol.15, n.2, pp.199-204. ISSN 2007-4034.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and ethylene (alone or combined) to handle the ripening process and to extend the shelf-life of 'Maradol' papaya. During 2007 three assays were conducted: 1. Effect of 1-MCP in papaya stored under marketing simulation and refrigeration plus marketing simulatio; 2. Papaya treated with 1-MCP and ethylene and the mixture of 1-MCP plus ethylene; 3. Commercial evaluation of 1-MCP and ethylene on papaya. Weight loss, external color, firmness, pulp color and total soluble solids were evaluated. It was found that 1-MCP at 100 nl·liter^-1 delayed the development of external and pulp color, and inhibited the fruit softening. Also it was observed that ethylene at 100 µl·liter^-1 applied after 1-MCP was unable to reverse the 1-MCP effect. However, 1-MCP applied after ethylene delayed fruit softening and the development of skin and pulp color induced by the ethylene application. It was concluded that 1-MCP at 100 nl·liter^-1 for 12 hours applied after ethylene may be a viable technique to manipulate the ripening process and to extend the shelf-life of 'Maradol' papaya.

Keywords : Carica papaya L; ethylene; 1-MCP, firmness; color.

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