Horticultural Studies (HortiS) 2009, Vol 26, Num, 1     (Pages: 15-27)

THE EFFECT OF 1-METHYLCYCLOPROPENE (1-MCP) TREATMENT ON POSTHARVEST QUALITY OF `VALENCIA LATE` ORANGES

Emel Fatma TÜRK 1 ,Hakkı Zafer CAN 1 ,Fatih ŞEN 1

1 E.Ü.Ziraat Fakültesi Bahçe Bitkileri Bölümü, 35100 Bornova İZMİR Viewed : 1572 - Downloaded : 805 This research was designed to find out the effect of various concentrations of 1- Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) application on quality and performance of `Valencia Late` oranges (Citrus cinensis L. Osbeck) stored at different temperatures. The oranges were harvested in 2006 from Ortaca, Muğla province in Turkey. 1- MCP was applied as 0, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 ppb to the fruits before storage for 12 hours at 20oC. After 1- MCP application, fruits were stored at two different temperatures as 5±0.5 and 2±0.5oC and at 90-95% relative humidity in prefabricated cold storage rooms for 150 days. Samples were taken before the application and end of storage to make several analysis, observations and measurements. In this respect, loss of weight, rind colour, chemical changes in orange juice, chilling injury and rot incidence were determined. 1-MCP application did not exclude the negative impacr of ethylene during storage, however enhanced chilling injury in fruits stored at 20C Keywords : Orange, 1- Methylcyclopropene, Storage, Quality, Chilling injury