Abstract

Present investigation was carried out at Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana to know the effect of aqueous 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) application on storage behavior of mature green to breaker stage tomato fruits (cv. Punjab Ratta) packed in polypropylene (40μ) bags stored at 13±2°C and relative humidity of 85-90% on various quality attributes at weekly intervals i.e on 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th and 36th day of storage. Study revealed that when tomato fruits were treated with 1-MCP at 18 mg/L resulted in significant lower ripening index at 15th, 22nd and 36th day of storage. Tomato fruits were in acceptable red ripe stage (hue angle 55.160) throughout the storage period (36 days of storage) compared to control. However, significant higher firmness (Newtons) was recorded throughout the storage period when fruits treated with 1-MCP at 6, 12 or 18 mg/L concentrations over control (without 1-MCP).

Keywords: Tomato, 1-MCP, MAP, Quality attributes