The Storage Ability of Broccoli after 1-Methylcyclopropene Treatment

Abstract

The study evaluated the effect of 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) treatment on broccoli quality and storage ability. Broccoli ‘Parthenon’ was treated the day after harvest with 1.0 or 3.0 cm3·m−3 1-MCP. The treatment was performed at 5 °C for 20 h, and then the plant material was stored at 0–1 °C for 30 or 60 d. After 30 d of refrigerated storage, broccoli was transferred to conditions simulating retail (15 °C) for 6 d. During 30 d of storage, the broccoli crowns maintained excellent quality. The fleshy stalks were slightly inferior due to the darkening of the leaf scar areas. After 60 d, there was a marked reduction in broccoli quality. Still, the positive effect of 1-MCP treatment on broccoli was observed as inhibiting the senescence of the remaining petiole fragments. During shelf life after 30 days of cold storage, broccoli treated with 1-MCP retained better quality of the crowns and fleshy stems, evident after six days of shelf life evaluation. The study did not find that 1-MCP treatment inhibited the respiration rate of broccoli, or ethylene production.

Keywords

• postharvest treatment
• quality
• ethylene
• carbon dioxide
• senescence