Effects of 1-Methylcyclopropene Combined with Modified Atmosphere on Quality of Fig (Ficus carica L.) during Postharvest Storage

Abstract

Fig (Ficus carica L.) is a highly nutritious fruit, which is rich in sugar, protein, amino acids, vitamins, and mineral elements. However, figs are perishable climacteric fruits, causing difficulty in postharvest storage and preservation. 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and modified atmosphere (MA) are preservation methods with many applications, but the effects of their combination on quality of fig during postharvest storage have rarely been studied. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of MA and MA+1-MCP treatments on postharvest quality of fig fruit stored at −1 ± 0.5°C for 30 days. The results showed that the MA+1-MCP treatment significantly improved the fruit texture, reduced the weight loss rate and malonaldehyde (MDA) accumulation, and inhibited the ethylene production and respiration rate compared with that in the control and MA groups. In summary, the MA+1-MCP treatment will be a good preservation method to maintain fruit quality of figs during postharvest storage.