THE EFFECT OF 1-MCP IN MAINTAINING THE QUALITY OF TOMATO SLICES

Abstract

Maintenance of quality traits is important during storage of fresh-cut produce.  Changes  in firmness, in tomato for instance, are ethylene-mediated.  The objective of this study was to determine the suitability of the ethylene antagonist 1-MCP in maintaining the quality of tomato slices.  Fruits of tomato cv. ‘Revolution’ were harvested at the ‘pink’ stage of maturity, treated with 1 mL.L^-1 1-MCP for 12 hours at 20 ºC, and sliced.  Slices were stored as vertical stacks in closed plastic containers at 5 °C for up to 10 days.  Exposure of intact tomatoes to 1-MCP reduced ethylene production and respiration rate in slices, and produced firmer slices than when intact tomatoes were treated without 1-MCP.    When intact tomatoes, at the ‘pink’ maturity stage were treated with several concentrations at 1-MCP (0.1, 1.0 or 10.0 mL.L^-1) at 20 °C for 12 h, 1-MCP reduced both ethylene production and the respiration rate, delayed softening of the pericarp and inhibited loss in acidity when compared with slices from fruit not treated with 1-MCP.   The most effective concentration of 1-MCP for inhibiting the ethylene-induced softening of tomato slices was 1 mL.L^-1.