Use of 1-MCP and modified atmosphere in post-harvest of atemoya ‘Gefner’

Abstract

The scarcity of technologies related to the post-harvest physiology of this species is one of the barriers to commercialization of atemoya over long distances, aggravated by perishability presented by them. Thus, the objective of this study was to prolong the shelf life of atemoya fruits using 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and modified atmosphere by low-density polyethylene (LDP), associated with refrigeration. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design in a split-plot, with plots in the four doses of 1-MCP (0, 200, 400 and 600 ?L L-1), and in the 5 subplots evaluation periods after harvest in the range of 5 days, with four replicate. Atemoyas were harvested at physiological maturity then treated with doses of 1-MCP for 8 h at room temperature. Soon after, the fruits were placed in polystyrene trays. Some remained unpacked and others were packed with a plastic film of LDP 16 ?m. The use of modified atmosphere and 1-MCP alone or combined, were effective in delaying the ripening of fruits, allowing the preservation of its chemistry quality. In the fruits treated with 1-MCP was no delay in the accumulation of soluble solids and starch degradation.