Delay of 1-MCP Treatment on Post-Harvest Quality of 'Bosc Kobak' Pear

Information about 1-MCP application time on pears is crucial to optimize the schedule of treatment in commercial practice. In the present work, the effect of a 3, 5 and 7 d delay of 1-MCP treatment after harvest on 'Bosc Kobak' pears was investigated, with an emphasis on shelf life. Fruit was treated with 1-MCP (625 ppm) on the 3rd, 5th and 7th d after harvest for 24 h and then kept at 20 degrees C for 14 d or stored at 1 degrees C in normal atmosphere for 6 months. Ethylene, carbon dioxide production, flesh firmness, soluble solid content and color index was determined after 4 and 6 months of cold storage and an additional 7 d of shelf-life at 20 degrees C. Pears treated with 1-MCP had lower values in ethylene and carbon dioxide production after storage compared to the control group; in particular, fruit treated on the 3rd d after harvest obtained the lowest values. Moreover, flesh firmness of treated samples had a higher value than that of the others after cold storage and subsequent 7 d of shelf life at 20 degrees C. In addition, fruit treated on the 3rd d after harvest exhibited the slower change in surface color than that of other groups. However, 1-MCP treatment on the 5th and 7th d after harvest had a minor effect on firmness and surface color change after a long storage period. The effect of 1-MCP treatment depends on the time from harvest to application. The application of 1-MCP on the 3rd d after harvest obtained the highest efficacy. The results of this study provided information on scheduling the commercial 1-MCP application for 'Bosc Kobak' pears.